City officials, organization leaders and community members rallied in Love Park today, Oct. 3, to launch the 7th Annual iPledge Campaign.

Women Against Abuse, Inc., Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence awareness and prevention service provider, teamed up with Verizon and Health Partners Plans to urge Philadelphians to take the iPledge Challenge. The challenge encourages community members to post a selfie to their social media accounts with their motivation for taking the pledge against violence, using the hashtag #iPledgeBecause and challenges others to participate in the pledge as well.

This event marked the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

At the event, Women Against Abuse honored Dr. Daniel Taylor of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children with the Pat Fox Trailblazer Award. Dr. Taylor was recognized for his work, alone with his team, to help provide service to the children living in the Women Against Abuse’s emergency safe haven.

“Domestic violence makes a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of children who witness attacks in their homes,” said Jeannine L. Lisitski, Executive Director of Women Against Abuse. “The iPledge Challenge is a way for the community to raise its voice as part of the solution to end this public health epidemic; to bring it out in the open, and say ‘we can do  better for the next generation.’ We can end this.”

Verizon, the founding sponsor of the iPledge Campaign, collected used cell phones as part of its HopeLine Program. The program collects and refurbishes no-longer used cell phones and accessories for the survivors of domestic violence. Last year, the program provided $420,000 in grants to victims of domestic violence and local organizations in the Philadelphia region.

To take the pledge, visit here.