Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation

Together we can end abuse!

About Us

The Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation is Texas' largest network of survivors, family and friends of victims, professionals and other concerned citizens campaigning in media, schools and communities to dramatically save lives, reduce injuries, ensure quality care and empower people to bring an end domestic, dating, child and pet abuse.

Our signature event is the Lillian Smith "Race To End Abuse" 5K/Walk, a series of events designed to mobilize thousands of abuse victims, their family members and concerned citizens to raise awareness of the battle against abuse, celebrate survivorship, remember those who have lost their lives and raise funds for ongoing advertising and public relations campaigns, plus victims assistance organizations.

Because relationship violence is now such a widespread national epidemic, we believe that only by more fully utilizing the power and reach of the media and Internet - combined with huge special events - will we ever be able to effectively combat abuse and achieve the attitudinal, behavioral and legal changes necessary to bring an end to relationship violence.

Based in the east Dallas suburb of Rockwall, and registered in Texas as a non-profit corporation, we have applied for and are currently awaiting approval from the IRS to become a tax-deductible, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Specifically, we:

Develop advertising and public relations programs designed to help bring and end to the related family violence, dating abuse, child and pet abuse/neglect epidemics

Write news stories, arrange news interviews and create advertising messages which increase awareness of how domestic, dating, child and pet abuse/neglect present such a widespread danger to us all.

Educate women and children, in particular, how to prevent and get help for abuse

Promote women's shelters & community resources which help victims and abusers using traditional media, plus the Internet and social networking websites

Organize special events, including 5K races, Walks, marches, concerts and conferences

Provide speakers to schools, churches, conferences, etc.

Consult with businesses to establish domestic violence and child abuse/neglect safety programs

Consult with colleges and school districts to establish dating violence safety programs

Network with and provide education for legislators; law enforcement; legal, health care and social service professionals; clergy and media

Research facts and statistics

Develop strategies for prevention programs

Until now the majority of our's nation's resources and energy have been used primarily for assisting victims and punishing abusers. But despite the millions of dollars and hours which have been contributed, relationship violence continues as a raging epidemic - particularly among teens and young adults.

If abuse is ever going to be truly eliminated, the time has come to focus a much greater amount of time and money on prevention campaigns - beginning with teens and children. Prevention is always less costly than punishment. As the old adage goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

History:

The Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation was founded in 2006 by veteran advertising and public relations consultant J.J. Smith, as a memorial to his late mother, Lillian Smith.

When he was 10 years old, little "Johnny" witnessed his abusive father shoot and kill his mother and then commit suicide. This tragic event concluded years of physical, verbal and emotional abuse inflicted by his father against their family.

As an experienced TV/radio advertising consultant, who has worked during his 30-year career with such leading brands as CBS Radio, Exxon, Macy's, Southwest Airlines, The Dallas Cowboys and Time-Warner Cable, J.J. learned from Dallas-Ft. Worth women's shelter leaders in 2000 that there was a serious need for greater awareness and more public information about the battle against domestic violence and child abuse.

Hoping he could help prevent other families from having to experience the pain and grief that he and his family had endured, he began meeting with other survivors and media professionals to provide this marketing and media assistance on a voluntary basis.

Initially founding the non-profit in 2000 as the Lillian Smith Memorial Family Violence Foundation, he soon learned how difficult it would be to achieve their objectives. People didn't and still don't want to talk about abuse or admit they were victims. Nevertheless, during that year and into 2001, the Foundation attracted over 40 active volunteers and was able to generate over $200,000 worth of media time - by arranging dozens of news media interviews and producing over a dozen TV/radio public service announcements.

Unfortunately, the tragic events of 9-11 depleted funding sources and prevented the small non-profit from continuing on.

In 2006, however, with the economy once again strong, J.J. re-established the organization rebranding it as the Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation.

It's initial achievement was to hold its first fundraising event, the "Race To Prevent Family Violence," Oct. 10, 2006, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco TX. Although it attracted over 150 runners and walkers, and several sponsorships were arranged to help pay expenses, the event failed to generate a profit. It did, however, prove that runners and walkers will participate in an event for this cause, and that such an event can be successful in the future, if more sponsorships can be arranged.

J.J. then joined several anti-violence organizations across the Metroplex and began

networking with goverment leaders, family violence victim advocates and the media. Soon, he, board members and other survivors began speaking publicly at a variety of locations across DFW.

But realizing how large the DFW Metroplex is for such efforts and having just moved to the east Dallas suburb of Rockwall in 2004, J.J. and his wife, Roxana, decided to just concentrate on making a difference in their own back yard.

The highlights have been:

Networking with and organizing over a dozen meetings between 2006-2009 with local professionals from such fields as law enforcement, criminal justice, health care, social services, schools and government to better coordinate efforts to reduce abuse in Rockwall County.

Hosting a weekly Saturday morning talk radio show, "When Love Hurts," on AM 1400 KGVL News-Talk Radio in Greenville TX, with domestic violence survivor Katie Clemens, from Sept. 2007 through April 2008.

Interviewing dozens of community leaders, victim advocates, counselors and survivors from across Northeast Texas on the radio show to discuss what needs to be done to further reduce and prevent family violence.

Making presentations to hundreds of students and faculty at Richland and Remington Colleges

Consulting with and arranging speaking and dramatic presentations with Rockwall ISD to begin development of an anti-dating abuse program in 2008-2009.

J.J. was honored by The Family Place women's shelter in Dallas in September, 2008, as one of four finalists for a new annual "Man of Distinction" award, given to a man who has done the most to make family violence a community issue, rather than just a woman's issue.

Organizing and hosting the first annual Rockwall County Lillian Smith "Race To End Abuse" 5K/Walk, Oct. 31, 2009, to increase awareness and funds for local campaigns in media, schools and communities.

Launching a professional website, plus print and web ad campaign in September, 2009, to promote the Race and provide important information to reduce and prevent abuse locally.

Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation on Facebook