We are a source of courage and a leader of movement and change.
Abuse Hurts is a charitable organization that has served Canadians since 1993. The Centre’s mandate is to significantly reduce the incidence and impact of abuse through education and public awareness. Abuse Hurts operates solely on private donations with no sustaining funds from any government body.
Abuse Hurts aims to raise awareness about the true cost of neglect and abuse and currently supports dozens of organizations including children’s services, victim’s services, shelters, and other agencies that deal with tens of thousands of children, women, and men whose lives have been affected by abuse. With help from the community and corporate partners, the Centre also provides access to support, healing and individual empowerment for adult survivors, their families and caregivers.
Our administrative costs are currently under 12%.
Our History
Regrettable as the incidence of abuse is, there is a failure of both our public and private programs to adequately provide assistance to those who have been affected by such trauma.
In 1993, as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Ellen Campbell, President, CEO and Founder, brought together a group of caring individuals and formed what now is called the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness. In 2013, we are celebrating our 20th year anniversary with a variety of activities.
Martin Kruz Memorial Fund
Martin Kruze was the first male survivor of the Maple Leaf Gardens tragedy to step forward and acknowledge the need for awareness around the horrific issue of abuse.
In memory of Martin, Abuse Hurts formed an alliance with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Shoppers Drug Mart and the Kruze Family and founded the Martin Kruze Memorial Fund, which continues to be in operation today, bringing hope to thousands of victims. The Martin Arnold Kruze Memorial Fund was incorporated into the Centre’s mandate after his tragic death. Martin was responsible for bringing the sexual abuse that took place at Maple Leaf Gardens to the public’s attention.
A report to the 1996 Canada-U.S. Women’s Health Forum estimated the economic cost of sexual and physical abuse to Canadian women and young girls alone at 4.2 billion dollars for that year. (In 2009 it was 15 Billion dollars) This does not account for the cost of male abuse at all.
In Canada, we bear these costs through our Health Care System and privately through insurance programs provided by employers and others. To address these issues, Abuse Hurts first offered workshops and national conferences under the Hope and Help banner. These events were attended by survivors of sexual abuse from all across the country as well as by professionals in social service.
Following national television coverage of our 1995 conference, the organization evolved into what is now Abuse Hurts. Our goal is to help Canadians understand the detrimental role abuse plays in our society, while outlining the problems and costs of abuse as a personal issue for all Canadians.
Today, as a resource centre for Canadian community members, we provide awareness and prevention programs for men, women and children. We serve Canadians who are dealing personally with the impact of abuse as well as those professionals who seek to provide assistance to those in need.
We believe that through public awareness, prevention and response programs, together, we can eradicate the cycle of abuse and truly make a difference for future generations.
