Senior Vice President and Controller Joins the Fight Against Child and Spousal Abuse; Hopes to Help Raise Awareness and Money to Build a New Women’s Shelter in Gwinnett to House Victims of Domestic Violence

August 23, Lawrenceville, Ga. – On Friday, July 27, BrandMortgage Senior Vice President and Controller Jennifer Jackson Cramer accepted her new position on the Board of Directors for Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV). Having just married the same month she was appointed to the PADV Board, newlywed Cramer finds it nearly impossible to believe the cruelty many women and children must endure in their own homes.

“It’s hard to deny the statistics, they’re staggering. One in four women will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetime,” stated Cramer. “I think almost everyone knows someone who has been in an abusive relationship. I have always been a supporter of female empowerment, and I believe that all women should have a safe environment to live in. Beyond providing a safe haven for women and their children, it is so important to empower these women and help them rebuild their lives. Many women have come through the PADV program and now lead healthy, happy and successful lives.”

Founded in 1975, PADV is the oldest and largest domestic violence agency in Georgia. It services over 18,000 women and children annually through its crisis line, Fulton and Gwinnett safe houses, community-based support services, and outreach programs. The organization strives to raise awareness for the issue of domestic and empower its survivors. Georgia is ranked 6^th in the nation for its rate of homicide related to intimate partner violence – and the problem is particularly dire in Gwinnett County. Between 2003 and 2010, Gwinnett County had more known cases of domestic-related fatalities than any other county in Georgia. While PADV runs the only state-certified shelter in Gwinnett County, the current site is no longer adequate to meet the growing demand.

Thanks to a $1.63 million Community Development Block Grant from Gwinnett County, PADV was able to purchase land and begin construction on a new Gwinnett Safe House. The interior of the 13,400 square foot facility still needs to be built out and equipped with furniture, fixtures and equipment. Therefore, PADV has launched a $4.42 million campaign to finish the building and ensure room for growth, while providing dedicated areas for women and children to get the support they need to rebuild their lives.

“We are delighted to welcome Jennifer to our board and appreciate her new commitment to taking a stand against the prevalence of domestic violence in Georgia and throughout the nation,” said Meagan Fulmer, president and CEO of PADV. “Intimate partner violence affects one in every four women in the United States, and we rely heavily on the strength of our leadership team as we work to provide victims with the hope and resources they need to heal. Jennifer’s extensive professional experience and tireless work ethic is a perfect match with what we look for in board members, and we are confident that she will be a tremendous addition to PADV.”

“I have no doubt Jennifer Cramer will prove an excellent fit for the Board of Directors for Partnership Against Domestic Violence,” said Greg Shumate, CEO and Managing Partner for BrandMortgage. “She is a very caring and compassionate person with great ideas. I’m sure she’ll be as much an asset to PADV’s awareness and fund-raising efforts as she has always been to the BrandMortgage team.”

To learn more about PADV and/or make a donation towards the construction of the Gwinnett Safe House, interested parties are encouraged to visit www.padv.org or call 404.870.9600. Monetary gifts to PADV are tax-deductible as provided by law.

About BrandMortgage:

Standing tall on their century-long history of operating with respect, trust, and integrity, BrandMortgage is a subsidiary of The Brand Banking Company – which was founded in 1905 and is one of the oldest privately-owned banks in Georgia. BrandMortgage is focused on being the best and strongest lender in the Southeast and – while they provide loans in 10 states – the full service lender has never outgrown their Georgia roots. Offering a wide variety of mortgage finance products, they help each and every client choose the best options to fit their budget and meet their individual needs. BrandMortgage strives to take the guesswork out of the application process and explains all of the options in simple, straightforward language so their clients can feel comfortable and secure with their decision. To learn more about BrandMortgage and their broad assortment of mortgage finance products, visit www.brandmortgage.com.

About PADV:

PADV is the largest and one of the oldest nonprofit domestic violence agencies in Georgia. Serving metro Atlanta since 1975, PADV helps to transform the lives of approximately 18,000 women and children every year through emergency intervention, violence prevention and long-term advocacy. PADV’s mission is to end the crime of intimate partner violence and empower its survivors. For more information, visit padv.org  or follow PADV on Facebook at facebook.com/PADVAtlanta and Twitter at @PADVAtlanta.

About Intimate Partner Violence in Georgia:

Intimate partner violence is widespread. In 2010, there were 130 domestic violence-related homicides in Georgia, a five percent increase over the previous year. Georgia is ranked 6th in the nation for its rate of men killing women. One in four women will experience intimate partner violence. According to the CDC, domestic violence costs more than $8.3 billion annually through increased health care costs.

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