MAN UP ISN’T JUST A PHRASE, IT’S A CRUSADE

The Hustler Files with Lisa Reilly - Stories That Challenge What You Thought You Knew

We all know the pink ribbon that signifies support for Breast Cancer. But did you know there’s another color ribbon that’s just as significant? It’s the purple ribbon of Domestic Violence. In 2012, in Nampa, Idaho, Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County approached his wife, Jeanie, and suggested they launch an organization to raise funds for those affected by domestic violence. In his line of work, Sheriff Donahue had encountered both women and men in the throes of intimate partnership violence and he wanted to be a changemaker. Having grown up as a fourth-generation cattleman, Sheriff Donahue was raised with the cowboy codes that included the saying, ‘man up’, meaning, be man enough to deal with a difficult situation. Thus the Man Up Crusade was born. EVERY day in the U.S., 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are the victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Man Up Crusade partners with local community events such as rodeos, and fairs to promote safe and healthy relationships through education, advocacy, and funding. Currently, Man Up Crusade has a presence in 18 States and is also supported by the Western States Sheriffs’ Association.