{blackbabes} Kerry Washington designs purple purse to raise domestic violence awareness

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Kerry Washington is dressing for a cause. On Monday (Sept. 15) the "Scandal" star hosted the launch of the 2014 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Program, which is dedicated to educating women about domestic violence and financial abuse.

In a PSA for the initiative Washington explains how financial issues are one of the major reasons victims of domestic abuse don't feel they can leave their partners. "Financial abuse leaves invisible bruises that can take decades to heal," the actress explains.

The purple purse Washington designed is one initiative with hopes to "make it easier to recognize and stop financial abuse", Washington says in the PSA.

Five-hundred of the gorgeous purple bags have been made and will be available for purchase, given to celebrities to wear on red carpets and gifted to domestic abuse survivors to raise awareness of this problem, which is very much in the forefront of today's news.

More information can be found at www.purplepurse.com.