A Life-Changing Film
Donation protected
Who is Smiles and Laughter Entertainment/Ending Abuse Media?
Alison Soroka is the Founder and Executive Director of Smiles and Laughter Entertainment/Ending Abuse Media which was established in March 2011 and is an innovative media organization with the goal to increase awareness and knowledge about domestic violence. We also assist the public in identifying and accessing the resources available to victims and their families. Smiles and Laughter Entertainment/Ending Abuse Media aims to stimulate action by sharing stories, providing referrals, connecting critical resources, assisting in how to identify the risk factors of domestic violence, and displaying where victims can go for help. We are aligned with the City of Surrey's goal to "improve public awareness around the reality and perception of crime."
Alison’s vision, "to leverage media to expose the crime of domestic violence, share vital resources, and encourage family peace," came from a combination of her experience in the film industry and being a thankful survivor of domestic violence. Being well-versed on the dynamics of this crime after having fled an abusive living situation (nearly losing her daughter's life and her own in the process) and also knowledgeable of media options, Alison is able to apply media as a primary tool of focus, using video, radio, print, and internet to reach the largest audiences. It is through this avenue that she seeks to promote the organization's motto of "Together We Can Break the Cycle of Abuse."
As a mother of three children and a human welfare advocate, Alison passionately wants to contribute to "breaking the cycle of abuse" while making communities safer, more informed, and prouder places to live. She is disciplined and committed to assisting in the eradication of domestic violence. She believes this is possible as long as we, as a society, unite with strong, active, unified, and persistent voices to expose and ultimately annihilate this cowardly act and crime. There are no communities that are immune; therefore, making it all that much more important for us to reach the largest of audiences and inspire every one of us to do our part.
Our future generations deserve the opportunity to enjoy a childhood filled with peace and innocence; not pain, suffering, or emotional trauma. Every woman/man deserves a life free from fear. Every child deserves to grow up knowing no threat of violence in their home. When we as a society can say that we feel safe and loved, then we know our work is done. Why we chose Smiles and Laughter Entertainment as our organization's name... because this is the aftermath of what can be if we work together in providing love, support, and assistance to victims of domestic violence. If you believe in this vision, or even if you are just willing to consider it, please support Smiles and Laughter Entertainment/Ending Abuse Media in whatever way possible so we can work together towards our common goal.
What has been some of our past successful initiatives?
Our initial campaign was a documentary called “The Honest Truth” which was based on the Maria Catroppa story in which she suffered years of domestic abuse before being murdered by her abuser and stabbed 126 times https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n45_JTavNrs
What is our current initiative about?
We are now in pre-production of our next film which is an indie dramatic short with high hopes of targeting not only those who have been directly impacted by the domestic violence, but more importantly those who do not identify with this crime nor feel or understand the importance of contributing assistance to break this vicious cycle. Violence against women and girls, and men and boys, affects us all. It destroys lives and weakens the fabric of our society. As a population, it takes a heavy toll on our communities and our economy. We all deserve a life filled with happiness and freedom. Love shouldn't hurt! It’s time to stop living in a culture of silence and start doing something about it.
• On average, 3 females & 1 male are murdered by their partner each day
• Number of children that die each day as a result of abuse 3
• The health costs of domestic violence yearly $5.8 Billion
• Number of children who witness domestic violence annually 6 Million +
• Estimated number of domestic violence incidents per year 960,000
• Family violence costs to the nation in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, and non-productivity $7.5 billion annually
AND PLEASE NOTE: Domestic violence is the most underreported crime, so the actual numbers are likely to be much higher.
Statistic Verification
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics
Research Date: June 5th, 2015
(Canadian stats are proportionate)
So unfortunately, numbers and costs like this affect us all. But through community intolerance to the crime and a coordinated community response, domestic violence can be fixed.
Who is affected by domestic violence?
There is a huge impact that domestic violence plays on our communities. Domestic violence affects all of us. It impacts all aspects of our community including community health, crime rates, the ability to participate in the workforce, child development, and family dynamics. Our communities work better when each citizen feels safe, secure, and free from the threat of violence. We all have a vested interest in working toward eliminating violence in all forms.
Who has shown a keen interest in our initiative?
Qualico Developments Ltd. has provided the seed money for this project. We have also had the ongoing support of our local radio station 107.7 Pulse FM. Click the link to listen to Ending Abuse Media’s and our director Matthew Campbell’s interview on the Kash Heed Show which aired October 20, 2016 https://soundcloud.com/pulse1077/kash-heed-show-alison-soroka-matthew-campbell-interview-2016-10-20
How will the funds be used?
Although we have had a great start to this campaign, we are still in need of funds in order to bring this film into the production and post-production stages. We have put together a budget, a very modest budget, but a budget nonetheless that we are going to need to raise some money for. So that is the purpose of this GoFundMe campaign.
How will your donation help?
At this time, we would like to send out a heartfelt thank you for the support that you might be willing to give this project. So please check us out on our social media sites under Ending Abuse Media and here on this site. At Ending Abuse Media, we leverage media to expose the crime of domestic violence while sharing vital resources and encouraging family peace. So by contributing to our film, you would be helping to break the cycle of domestic violence. With more community intolerance to this crime and more of a coordinated community response, domestic violence can be fixed. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness and education can contribute to the normalization and perpetuation of domestic violence. But with your help, you will be assisting Ending Abuse Media to extinguish this desensitization while preventing more innocent lives from being stolen from the insidious and covert actions of their abusers. We need your help to reach our goal of $4000, so that we can bring this life-changing film to fruition. Together we can make a difference.
Thank you kindly!❤
DONOR REWARDS:
· $10 DONATION:
Thank you! Every little bit counts. We will add you to our email list, and you will receive updates on the film's progress.
· $20 DONATION OR MORE:
Thank you! We will list your name in the rolling, end credits of the film (alphabetical order by last name).
· $2000 DONATION OR MORE:
Thank You! Your name will appear in the end credits of the film as an Associate Producer. You will also get a VIP ticket to our movie premiere, which includes the after party for cast, crew, and other VIPs.
Alison Soroka is the Founder and Executive Director of Smiles and Laughter Entertainment/Ending Abuse Media which was established in March 2011 and is an innovative media organization with the goal to increase awareness and knowledge about domestic violence. We also assist the public in identifying and accessing the resources available to victims and their families. Smiles and Laughter Entertainment/Ending Abuse Media aims to stimulate action by sharing stories, providing referrals, connecting critical resources, assisting in how to identify the risk factors of domestic violence, and displaying where victims can go for help. We are aligned with the City of Surrey's goal to "improve public awareness around the reality and perception of crime."
Alison’s vision, "to leverage media to expose the crime of domestic violence, share vital resources, and encourage family peace," came from a combination of her experience in the film industry and being a thankful survivor of domestic violence. Being well-versed on the dynamics of this crime after having fled an abusive living situation (nearly losing her daughter's life and her own in the process) and also knowledgeable of media options, Alison is able to apply media as a primary tool of focus, using video, radio, print, and internet to reach the largest audiences. It is through this avenue that she seeks to promote the organization's motto of "Together We Can Break the Cycle of Abuse."
As a mother of three children and a human welfare advocate, Alison passionately wants to contribute to "breaking the cycle of abuse" while making communities safer, more informed, and prouder places to live. She is disciplined and committed to assisting in the eradication of domestic violence. She believes this is possible as long as we, as a society, unite with strong, active, unified, and persistent voices to expose and ultimately annihilate this cowardly act and crime. There are no communities that are immune; therefore, making it all that much more important for us to reach the largest of audiences and inspire every one of us to do our part.
Our future generations deserve the opportunity to enjoy a childhood filled with peace and innocence; not pain, suffering, or emotional trauma. Every woman/man deserves a life free from fear. Every child deserves to grow up knowing no threat of violence in their home. When we as a society can say that we feel safe and loved, then we know our work is done. Why we chose Smiles and Laughter Entertainment as our organization's name... because this is the aftermath of what can be if we work together in providing love, support, and assistance to victims of domestic violence. If you believe in this vision, or even if you are just willing to consider it, please support Smiles and Laughter Entertainment/Ending Abuse Media in whatever way possible so we can work together towards our common goal.
What has been some of our past successful initiatives?
Our initial campaign was a documentary called “The Honest Truth” which was based on the Maria Catroppa story in which she suffered years of domestic abuse before being murdered by her abuser and stabbed 126 times https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n45_JTavNrs
What is our current initiative about?
We are now in pre-production of our next film which is an indie dramatic short with high hopes of targeting not only those who have been directly impacted by the domestic violence, but more importantly those who do not identify with this crime nor feel or understand the importance of contributing assistance to break this vicious cycle. Violence against women and girls, and men and boys, affects us all. It destroys lives and weakens the fabric of our society. As a population, it takes a heavy toll on our communities and our economy. We all deserve a life filled with happiness and freedom. Love shouldn't hurt! It’s time to stop living in a culture of silence and start doing something about it.
• On average, 3 females & 1 male are murdered by their partner each day
• Number of children that die each day as a result of abuse 3
• The health costs of domestic violence yearly $5.8 Billion
• Number of children who witness domestic violence annually 6 Million +
• Estimated number of domestic violence incidents per year 960,000
• Family violence costs to the nation in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, and non-productivity $7.5 billion annually
AND PLEASE NOTE: Domestic violence is the most underreported crime, so the actual numbers are likely to be much higher.
Statistic Verification
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics
Research Date: June 5th, 2015
(Canadian stats are proportionate)
So unfortunately, numbers and costs like this affect us all. But through community intolerance to the crime and a coordinated community response, domestic violence can be fixed.
Who is affected by domestic violence?
There is a huge impact that domestic violence plays on our communities. Domestic violence affects all of us. It impacts all aspects of our community including community health, crime rates, the ability to participate in the workforce, child development, and family dynamics. Our communities work better when each citizen feels safe, secure, and free from the threat of violence. We all have a vested interest in working toward eliminating violence in all forms.
Who has shown a keen interest in our initiative?
Qualico Developments Ltd. has provided the seed money for this project. We have also had the ongoing support of our local radio station 107.7 Pulse FM. Click the link to listen to Ending Abuse Media’s and our director Matthew Campbell’s interview on the Kash Heed Show which aired October 20, 2016 https://soundcloud.com/pulse1077/kash-heed-show-alison-soroka-matthew-campbell-interview-2016-10-20
How will the funds be used?
Although we have had a great start to this campaign, we are still in need of funds in order to bring this film into the production and post-production stages. We have put together a budget, a very modest budget, but a budget nonetheless that we are going to need to raise some money for. So that is the purpose of this GoFundMe campaign.
How will your donation help?
At this time, we would like to send out a heartfelt thank you for the support that you might be willing to give this project. So please check us out on our social media sites under Ending Abuse Media and here on this site. At Ending Abuse Media, we leverage media to expose the crime of domestic violence while sharing vital resources and encouraging family peace. So by contributing to our film, you would be helping to break the cycle of domestic violence. With more community intolerance to this crime and more of a coordinated community response, domestic violence can be fixed. Unfortunately, a lack of awareness and education can contribute to the normalization and perpetuation of domestic violence. But with your help, you will be assisting Ending Abuse Media to extinguish this desensitization while preventing more innocent lives from being stolen from the insidious and covert actions of their abusers. We need your help to reach our goal of $4000, so that we can bring this life-changing film to fruition. Together we can make a difference.
Thank you kindly!❤
DONOR REWARDS:
· $10 DONATION:
Thank you! Every little bit counts. We will add you to our email list, and you will receive updates on the film's progress.
· $20 DONATION OR MORE:
Thank you! We will list your name in the rolling, end credits of the film (alphabetical order by last name).
· $2000 DONATION OR MORE:
Thank You! Your name will appear in the end credits of the film as an Associate Producer. You will also get a VIP ticket to our movie premiere, which includes the after party for cast, crew, and other VIPs.
Organizer
Alison Soroka
Organizer
