Men and women today are more likely to report incidents of battering than in the past, but there is still much to be done to make domestic violence a community concern rather than a private issue. Domestic violence touches every one of us. It fills emergency rooms and morgues. It keeps employees from being able to work. It makes children fearful and angry. It contributes to crime on our streets. It destroys homes and families. • In one year alone, almost four million American women are physically abused by their husbands or boyfriends; • A woman is physically abused every nine seconds in this country; • Women are more often victims of domestic violence than victims of burglary, mugging, and other physical crimes combined; • More than one in three Americans have witnessed an incident of domestic violence; • Forty-two percent of murdered women are killed by their intimate male partners. A September 1994 story in Ms. Magazine reported that domestic violence causes almost 100,000 days of hospitalization, 30,000 emergency room visits and 40,000 trips to the doctor every year. If all the women victimized by domestic violence in 1993 joined hands, said the article, the line would stretch from New York City to Los Angeles and beyond. Very little in known about the actual number of men who are in a domestic relationship in which they are abused or treated violently by women. In 100 domestic violence situations approximately 40 cases involve violence by women against men. An estimated 400,000 women per year are abused or treated violently in the United States by their spouse or intimate partner. This means that roughly 300,000 to 400,000 men are treated violently by their wife or girl friend. Regardless of the exact statistics, these figures do serve to illustrate that men are victims of domestic abuse, and that it is a significant problem. Domestic violence is everybody's business, and we must all support efforts to end abuse. Only by making a real commitment to stop domestic violence can we end this devastating problem. If you are suffering from domestic abuse, it is very clear that you are not alone. Each of us must do all that we can to stop domestic violence. So please join the us on Nov. 19, 2011 as we launch the 1st annual "Hands Off" Dinner and Dance supporting victims of violence and deliver the message that domestic violence is unacceptable in our community and in every community at the Four Points Sheraton Huntsville Airport from 6:30pm-11:30pm by purchasing a table for $500.00 which seats 10 guest or individual tickets for $45.00 to support this great cause. Please mail checks to Elite Creations 109 Cresent Circle Madison, AL 35758 or call 256-603-0324 for tickets.