DECATUR, ILLINOIS – August 15, 2017 – Dove, Inc. today announced a $1,000,000 donation from The Howard G. Buffett Foundation to stabilize the finances of the Dove Domestic Violence Program.  The Domestic Violence Program offers safe shelter, 24-hour hot lines, children’s services, support groups, parenting groups, prevention programming and legal advocacy to those seeking services in Macon, Moultrie, Shelby, Piatt and DeWitt Counties. 

The donation from the Buffett Foundation, delivered to Dove’s Board of Directors on July 26, 2017, came at a time when Dove faced an uncertain financial and operational future due in part to the lack of an approved state budget in Illinois over the last two years.  Dove typically receives 25% of its total agency budget from the state of Illinois, 50% of the Domestic Violence Program Budget has historically been state funding to meet the needs of the counties it serves.

 “We are humbled by and incredibly grateful for this generous support,” said Christine Gregory, Executive Director. “We see a great need in Central Illinois for the services we offer our client communities and are thrilled that our domestic violence program is now secure.”

 With the donation from The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Dove will be able to provide Domestic Violence services to individuals in crisis across Central Illinois for many years to come.  The support also provides financial stability to the entire Dove, Inc. organization, allowing it to continue to offer a broad array of crisis and community support services.