The Purple Event: 13 Years of Hope
The 13th Annual Purple Event was a truly beautiful and powerful gathering of healing, hope, and community.
Hosted by Helping Hands Resource Center (HHRC), the event brought together survivors, families, advocates, and community partners to honor resilience and stand united in the mission to end violence and build safer homes.
From the art activities and coffee lounge to the inspiring stories of strength and healing, every moment reflected what the Purple Event was created for — to celebrate transformation, courage, and new beginnings.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, volunteers, and attendees whose generosity and support make this work possible. Together, we continue to create spaces for healing and empowerment.
🦋 Together, we create. Together, we rise.
Join us!
Help us plan and bring this event to life.
The Story Behind the Purple Event
Twelve years ago, our founder Karen Gonzalez-Torres was living in a domestic violence shelter with her children. October felt heavy — every message about Domestic Violence Awareness Month seemed to portray survivors only through pain and sadness, as if our stories ended the moment we left abuse.
But Karen knew survivors are more than their pain. She wanted to create something that celebrated the strength, courage, and resilience it takes to leave and rebuild. That vision gave birth to the Purple Event.
What began as a small gathering has now grown into a 12-year tradition of hope and healing. Each year, the Purple Event brings together survivors, families, and community members to:
Share powerful survivor testimonies.
Celebrate healing through art, music, and storytelling.
Remind survivors that leaving isn’t the end — it’s the beginning of a new chapter.
Today, the Purple Event continues to shine a light not only on domestic violence, but on the powerful truth that survivors are strong, resilient, and worthy of celebration.
Why It Matters
Domestic violence impacts millions of individuals and families every year, but awareness is only part of the story. The Purple Event exists to shine a light on both the realities of abuse and the strength of survivors who rebuild their lives with courage and resilience.
Quick Facts
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
In Los Angeles County, more than 40,000 DV-related calls are made to law enforcement every year.
Survivors often face financial instability, housing insecurity, and isolation, making community support essential.
Hope & Resilience
The Purple Event is not about sadness alone — it is about hope, healing, and community coming together. We gather each year to honor survivors’ journeys, celebrate their courage, and remind every survivor that leaving abuse is not the end — it is the beginning of a new chapter.
The Purple Event 2025 — A Day of Healing, Hope & Community
The 12th Annual Purple Event brought our community together during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to honor survivors, raise awareness, and celebrate 12 years of healing. Here are some of our favorite moments captured throughout the day.
Recognition & Gratitude
Celebrating our sponsors, volunteers, and team.
We use cookies to improve your experience and to help us understand how you use our site. Please refer to our cookie notice and privacy policy for more information regarding cookies and other third-party tracking that may be enabled.
Helping Hands Resource Center Inc
TRAUMA INFORMED STANDARDS OF CARE
© 2026 Helping Hands Resource Center Inc. All rights reserved.
Helping Hands Resource Center™ is a trademark of Helping Hands Resource Center Inc.
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and federal tax ID 99-2658955
