Kerry Washington designs purse for abuse awareness

Domestic abuse comes in many forms – physical abuse, emotional abuse and mental abuse. But one form of domestic abuse isn't talked about as widely: financial abuse.

"Scandal" star Kerry Washington is a brand ambassador for the Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse initiative, which aims to raise awareness about a form of abuse that hinders women from leaving a violent relationship. Abusive partners will withhold money from, affect the job security of, and cut off resources necessary for the partner being abused. According to PurplePurse.com, 98% of all domestic violence cases include some type of financial abuse.

So Washington's been carrying purple purses.

TIME recounts that she wore one to the Emmys and the NAACP Image Awards, and has been sporting one around town. Turns out they're not just reflective of the "Django Unchained" actress' affinity for the amethyst shade. Purple is the color for domestic-violence awareness. A purse, Washington explained on the site, represents a woman's power. Washington designed her purple purse to raise money for the foundation. Of the 500 made, some will go to celebrities to help raise financial-abuse awareness, some will be sold to raise money for the cause, and others will be given to domestic-abuse survivors.

By donating at least $10 to any of the organizations included in the Purple Purse Challenge, a fund-raising campaign designed to benefit charities focused on domestic violence, participants automatically gain a chance to win one of Washington's bags. The bag itself is a wine-colored purple with tweed and leather paneling, a long gold chain strap, and a leather hand strap for a purse-to-clutch transformation.

The challenge ends Oct. 3.

If you or someone you know is in a domestically violent relationship, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

[The Root]