Brooke McMurray —
An Advocate for Change

		Read More About Brooke... SafeNews - Nov. 2006 New York Times - Nov. 20,2005 Newsday - Oct. 19, 2005 NPR Marketplace - Oct. 19, 2005

“Change begins when we break the silence,” said Brooke McMurray before 900 corporate and philanthropic leaders at Safe Horizon’s 11th Anniversary Champion Awards Luncheon in May 2006. 

Breaking the silence that surrounds issues of violence and victimization in our communities has been Ms. McMurray’s mission since she joined Safe Horizon’s Board of Directors in 1996 and throughout her current tenure as the Chair of the Board.  As a mother, a New Yorker, a former executive and a survivor of domestic violence, Ms. McMurray is keenly aware of the impact that abuse has on every aspect of a victim’s life.  Her involvement with Safe Horizon has helped her become aware of what to do to address it as well.

“To affect real change we must begin by changing attitudes about violence and get the public at large involved in our cause,” she said, and to do so, she has done much more than speak out at luncheons. 

As a former publishing industry executive, Ms. McMurray knows the power of the media.  In fact, before her retirement in 2000, Ms. McMurray had a 26-year career at Time Incorporated, where she held several executive positions, launching and marketing more than 30 magazines including People, In Style, Time, Sports Illustrated and Fortune.  Since the mid-90's, she has spoken extensively about domestic violence from a survivor's perspective, granting dozens of interviews to local and national outlets such as National Public Radio, The New York Times, The Daily News and ABC World News Tonight.  She was also the subject of a 2002 Lifetime Television special, Fear No More: Stop Violence Against Women.

Ms. McMurray has also played a crucial role in the development of SafeWork, Safe Horizon’s innovative program to help corporate America protect their employees and their bottom lines from the impact of domestic violence.  For her work and achievement in helping to end violence against women, she received the 1998 Heinz Family Foundation R. O. S. E.  (Regaining One's Self-Esteem) Achievement Award, an honor that recognizes a woman survivor of violence. 

“I thought what was happening to me was my fault,” said Ms. McMurray of her abusive marriage.  “I am so lucky to have survived, and I am so honored to be here now, helping Safe Horizon move victims of violence from crisis to confidence.”