written by Bill Mitchell, Clery Center Board of Directors, former Kristin Mitchell Foundation president

Many nonprofit foundations are created to honor a person who tragically died due to an unexpected, often tragic, circumstance. These nonprofits might also wish to prevent others from losing their lives in a similar manner. For us, that person being honored is my daughter.

In June 2005, twenty days after her college graduation from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Kristin was brutally attacked and murdered in her apartment while breaking up with her ex-boyfriend. That evening, after receiving word from police, we felt we would one day take her tragedy and make something positive out of it. We said, “This will become a responsibility and an opportunity.”

Before this horrible tragedy, Kristin’s family and friends had little awareness or understanding about dating violence or domestic violence beyond stereotypical, inaccurate perceptions. All of that soon changed.

Since its creation in 2007, the mission of the Kristin Mitchell Foundation (KMF) has been “to end the devastating effects of dating abuse by raising awareness about warnings signs and preventive actions.” KMF focused its energies on reaching young adults through awareness and educational presentations at high schools, colleges, domestic violence agency events and community gatherings. We also gained attention through television, radio and podcast interviews. KMF explained what happened with Kristin but also detailed dating violence warning signs and safe methods for ending unhealthy relationships.

Our foundation gained dating violence awareness through events like the Kristin’s Krusade 5K Run/Walks we held at Saint Joseph’s University. We also awarded the Kristin Mitchell ’05 Scholarship to deserving students who demonstrated active involvement in Service Learning activities at Saint Joe’s–specifically in the domestic violence or dating violence areas. In addition, the foundation awarded grants to agencies in Pennsylvania and Maryland who worked to educate about dating violence. Each organization helped to fulfill our mission in hands-on ways.

KMF’s aim was to make the lives of young adults safer. The responses we collected from those who received our message assured us we were doing that. We also heard several young women tell us our message most likely saved their lives. We were pleased with what we had accomplished but questioned if there could be a way to share our knowledge and passion with audiences nationally. Around that time, Clery Center asked if we would entertain a sharing of our mission with theirs. Clery Center had been committed to campus safety for thirty years and the connections between our two missions were remarkably similar. We said yes!

A month ago, the Kristin Mitchell Foundation was discontinued but our spirit and passion will grow with Clery Center. We are now a Clery Center initiative specifically focused on dating violence. We are called Kristin’s Krusade–just like our 5k run/walk’s name, but we are much more than that. The dating violence cause will benefit greatly from Clery’s ability to touch young adults in high schools and colleges on a countrywide basis. Our mission is reborn and the possibilities are boundless.

In life, Kristin was a person who gave generously to friends and family. She volunteered freely for service learning projects and youth groups, and she wanted to make this world a better place. Today, you could say she is still doing that. Kristin’s trademark was her smile. She loved life and we all would have benefited had she lived beyond her precious twenty-one years.

Kristin’s mother and I feel strongly Kristin would be alive and prospering today had she gained knowledge about dating violence. Her tragedy didn’t need to happen, but we are making the most of it through the new Kristin’s Krusade, a powerful initiative by Clery Center. We are certain Kristin is quite pleased with our transformation.

Above: Bill Mitchell talks about what happened to Kristin.

Additional resources: Watch Clery Center's video on FAQs on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking