About

V-Day UPenn

In our 12th year, the V-Day University of Pennsylvania College Campaign is one of the largest and most successful social justice movements on campus. V-Day Penn is the catalyst for mobilizing both women and men to heighten awareness about violence against women and girls. Each year, a diverse cast and crew help spread the message to thousands of people in the greater Penn community.

Our production of The Vagina Monologues spreads the message to over 3,000 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and residents annually. Over the past three years, Penn V-Day has raised over $75,000 for our beneficiary Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR), the only rape crisis center in Philadelphia. By creating this network, V-Day strives to empower women to find their collective voice and demand an end to the violence that affects one in three women in the US and around the world. Each year our commitment grows even stronger.

V-Day the Movement

V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler's award winning play The Vagina Monologues. In 2007, more than 3000 V-Day events took place in the U.S. and around the world. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $50 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina.

For more information, please visit www.vday.org

Spotlight 2012

In 2012, V-Day's Spotlight Campaign will again focus on the Women and Girls of Haiti.

The Spotlight will highlight the high levels of violence against women and girls in Haiti, and will focus on the increased rates of sexual violence since the devastating earthquake that took place in January 2010. All funds raised through the Spotlight Campaign will be used to support a revolutionary national program in Haiti lead by a coalition of women activists - including longtime V-Day activist Elvire Eugene - that is addressing sexual violence through art, advocacy, safe shelter, and legal services. Click here to learn more about the 2012 spotlight.

W.O.A.R

Founded in Philadelphia, in 1973, Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) is a vital non-profit organization dedicated to addressing sexual violence in our society. For almost thirty years, WOAR has worked together with police, hospitals and courts to serve the needs of survivors of sexual violence. These partnerships have resulted in the:

Establishment of the Rape Prosecution Unit of the District Attorney's Office
Creation of a separate waiting room for survivors testifying at Family Court
Continued training of Emergency Room nurses in sensitive evidence collection
Training of all police academy recruits in responding to crimes of sexual violence

WOAR's professional staff and committed volunteers provide comprehensive sexual assault counseling and advocacy services, and community and professional training. WOAR offers twenty confidential counseling sessions free of charge to adults and children who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. Educational programs are available to corporations, community organizations, schools and other service providers.

Sexual violence is a social issue that requires the resources knowledge and dedication of many different groups. By working together, we can work to eliminate sexual violence in our society. Meanwhile, WOAR is committed and ready-twenty-four hours a day-to serve the needs of survivors, to advocate on their behalf and provide life-saving information to the entire community.

For more information, please visit www.woar.org