06/23/2020
Dear friends and supporters of Battered and Beautiful,
I have put off writing this for as long as possible. I know that it is impossible for me to communicate just how much the past few years leading Battered and Beautiful have meant to me. It has been my world!
I started Battered and Beautiful in 2017, hoping that a robust organization could spur community involvement and help the battered, beautiful women of Dallas. Domestic violence, teen dating violence, and s*x trafficking have always been societal issues so close to my heart in a way that I cannot properly articulate or explain. The women and children I have met thoroughly changed my life and the way I see the world. It is cliché, but they have taught me more than I could ever teach them. I will never be the same.
I find myself in a season of change as I enter medical school in August and move into Dallas. I have spent countless hours growing Battered and Beautiful to create as much of an impact as possible. From teaching weekly yoga classes in shelters to fundraising thousands, this project has been a daily commitment. I could not give Battered and Beautiful the time and effort it deserves as a full-time medical student. It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to end Battered and Beautiful.
The memories I have through Battered and Beautiful remind me of the charity of the Grapevine, Colleyville, and Denton communities. This nonprofit has been a constant cue to get up in the morning and do something good, that the world is not all that bad sometimes, and to thank my Higher Power that I am in a place to help victims of domestic violence. Helping comes from a place of privilege and I plan on using my privilege to help under-served communities for the rest of my life.
Although I was hoping to do more events this summer, COVID-19 has limited our capacity to host fundraisers, and I accept that wholeheartedly. As a result, our last event as a nonprofit organization will be our charity yoga class this Saturday at the Grapevine Botanical Gardens at 10AM. We will be live-streaming the event through our page as well. As always, just bring yourself, a mat, and whatever donation you can give or nothing at all. I hope to see your lovely faces from a safe distance.
Though I am heartbroken to be moving on from this phase of my life, I know this is not the end of my philanthropic career. I have always had plans to use my medical training for the greater good, yet what that exactly looks like I am not quite sure. To me, this is merely a pause, a semicolon, a period in time where my focus shifts for a moment. I will keep being a helper and I pray you do too. There is so much work left to be done!
With Love,
Jenny Foster
President/Founder of Battered and Beautiful
https://www.batteredandbeautiful.org/blog/2020/6/23/dear-friends-and-supporters-of-battered-and-beautiful
