HISTORY OF PURPLE LIGHT NIGHTS™

The Covington Domestic Violence Task Force (CDVTF) was formed in June of 2004 by Victoria Throm and Curt Lindsley.  In September 2005, the task force became incorporated.  Victoria is the Personnel and Human Service Analyst for the City of Covington and a survivor of domestic violence.  Curt is a resident of the community, former pastor, and served on the Covington Youth and Family Services Commission.  Both Curt and Victoria saw the need to provide awareness education to the community and business leaders, give support to victims of domestic violence, and conduct fundraising projects to further these goals.  Victoria is the President of the Covington DVTF.

In the fall of 2006 the members of the Covington DVTF discussed a variety of ideas for participation in October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Knowing that purple is the symbolic color of domestic violence, and that individuals and groups around the country had previously used purple lights to remember victims of domestic violence, Victoria presented the idea of a Purple Light Nights™ event.  The task force embraced the concept and the Purple Light Nights™ campaign was conceived.

Over the next nine months the task force ‘labored’ over the development, marketing, ordering, and processing of the campaign.  Victoria shared the idea with the Domestic Violence Task Force Collaborative (made up of eight neighboring cities), local service clubs, the local Chamber of Commerce, members of the medical field, the media, businesses, elected officials, and the Washington State Attorney Generals’ Office.  The campaign was well received by everyone and in October 2007 the Covington DVTF finally gave birth to Purple Light Nights™.

In early 2008 the Covington DVTF agreed to hold a contest to find a logo that would depict the meaning of Purple Light Nights™.  Several entries were submitted by people in the community and the task force had the difficult decision of choosing the logo that met their expectations.  The winning logo was designed by fourteen year old student Krista Bates.  An Agreement was signed by Krista to grant, transfer, and assigns all rights, title, and interest of the logo to the Covington Domestic Violence Task Force. 

The Purple Light Nights™ name and logo are trademarks of the Covington Domestic Violence Task Force.  The purpose of the trademark is to unify the idea of lighting purple lights - whether it is on a porch light or business window or street tree.  We believe that by promoting the Purple Light Nights™   campaign, we will send a consistent message, providing an opportunity to develop public awareness of domestic violence issues, and form a unified campaign that will be recognized everywhere.  The growth of PLN would not be possible without the generous efforts and creative talents of web designer and special friend, Yona Burdge.

There is POWER IN NUMBERS.  We encourage you to join us, wherever you live, and hold a Purple Light Nights™ event in your city or county.  Please click on “Get Involved” for instructions, downloadable templates, and forms that are available for you to use and edit to fit your specific group.   Learn how in two months we went from an order of 100 purple lights to 800 lights!! This is also a great opportunity for a fundraiser to help support the work of your task force or organization.