As Hollywood Shines a Spotlight on Domestic Violence, Reno’s Domestic Violence Resource Center Urges Support for Survivors

Reno, NV – Some stories do more than entertain—they spark conversations that matter. Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel and now film adaptation, It Ends With Us, explores love, trauma, and the cycles of domestic violence. The buzz surrounding the film has ignited a nationwide conversation about abuse, bringing a painful reality into the spotlight—one that hits close to home for many in Reno.

Amid the vibrancy of the “Biggest Little City” lies a growing crisis. Over the past three years, the Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) has experienced a 22% annual increase in people seeking help. From a statewide perspective, Nevada has the fifth-highest overall crime rate in the United States and ranks 2nd for incidents of domestic violence. Reasons for Nevada’s high rates of domestic violence can be attributed to a lack of funding for domestic violence programs.

“Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate,” says Kristen Kennedy, Executive Director of the DVRC. “It crosses all boundaries—whether economic, cultural, or social—impacting people from every walk of life. For many, leaving their situation is filled with fear, financial instability, and legal challenges. Many feel trapped and don’t know where to turn.”

Since 1977 the DVRC has tirelessly expanded its programs to serve more than 3,700 victims in Reno-Sparks each year. The organization offers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Confidential housing for survivors and their children, emergency transportation, relocation, food, clothing, and diapers to ensure immediate protection and basic needs.
• An extended housing program that provides survivors the time and space to rebuild their lives and secure long-term, permanent housing.
• Support with safety planning, protective orders, legal education, and court accompaniment to ensure survivors’ rights are upheld in the legal system.
• Trauma-informed counseling designed to help survivors heal emotionally and regain confidence.
• Financial coaching, life skills classes, support groups, and family activities to empower survivors’ independence and foster family reconnection.
• Education and outreach initiatives to raise awareness, teach healthy relationship skills, and empower the next generation to break the cycle of abuse.

Real people in our community face the horrors of abuse every day. As domestic violence cases continue to rise, the gap between the demand for services and available funding is widening. Now more than ever, the DVRC depends on community support to keep these life-saving programs running around the clock.

Turning Awareness into Action

The Purple Gala fundraiser seeks to turn the widespread awareness generated by the It Ends With Us film release into real-world support for victim-survivors in our own community. The Purple Gala, hosted at the Grand Sierra Resort on Saturday, October 19, brings together leaders, advocates, and community members united by one purpose: ensuring that everyone can access the help they deserve.

The Purple Gala will also honor two Hannah Humanitarian Award recipients that fight for justice on behalf of victims and survivors of domestic violence across the state. The Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada provides culturally responsive victim’s services for Native survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse, and crime. The Nevada Bar Foundation creates access to legal services and education programs for the poor, victims of domestic violence, and children in need of protection by the juvenile court.

If you can’t attend the event, you can still make an impact by making a donation. Every contribution matters.

Go here to purchase tickets or sponsorships. For questions, contact Alyssa Ropell, Development Manager, at alyssar@dvrcnv.org.