Colts TE Dwayne Allen is Taking a Stand against Domestic Violence

Colts tight end Dwayne Allen, in his third year with the team, has already proven to be a great influence and stand for what is right.  On Thursday, he did just that once again in taking a stand against domestic violence, and he opened up on his own experience with it.

"Growing up where I grew up in the inner city of Fayetteville, N.C.," Allen said, "unfortunately domestic violence was something that I saw regularly in my own household. My mom had enough resources around her, that being people and money, to escape that situation. But a lot more families aren't as fortunate."

"I had nowhere to turn and didn't know what to do," Allen continued, per the USA Today, "sitting there and seeing my mom crying, her eyes swollen, I had no idea what was going on, my other brothers and sisters yelling and screaming in anger," Allen said, referencing his six siblings. "They (Olivia's abusers) would just come home late at night for no apparent reason just get upset and go to whaling on her."

"My mom always taught me to have the utmost respect for women and to never place my hand on a woman," Allen said. "And that's one thing I take very seriously," he said. "I don't play around, play hit with my girlfriend or anything like that because of my past and how serious I know domestic violence is."

Dwayne Allen and the Colts are partnering with Verizon Wireless and their annual HopeLine cell phone drive to support domestic violence organizations.  The Colts and Verizon have pledged more than $20,000 in grants and they are hoping to see that number increase with participation from the community.

"Domestic violence is an epidemic that usually goes silent," Allen said. "People don't like to talk about it. People don't like to bring it up. Nearly one in every four women, one in every seven men and millions of children are affected by domestic violence. That's why I'm excited to announce the partnership between the Colts and Verizon with HopeLine. The proceeds will be going to Coburn Place. Like she (Verizon Wireless Region President Lauren Love-Wright) said, the Coburn Place has helped over 1,000 kids since 1996. The organization benefits those that have been affected by domestic violence."

Credit to Dwayne Allen for talking about this and raising support for it.  The Colts, Allen, Verizon Wireless, and others are attempting to do something about that and to help both prevent domestic violence and support those who are victims of it.