Celebrity Board
The National Domestic Violence Hotline Celebrity Board was created in 2008 to help change public attitudes that allow domestic violence to exist. This group of acclaimed artists has made personal commitments to promoting healthy, respectful relationships, and as spokespersons for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, they publicize the Hotline (800-799-SAFE) as a source of help for people experiencing abuse. We are grateful to our Celebrity Board for setting this national example of leadership and making it widely understood that it takes each and every one of us to end domestic violence.
To speak with a Hotline representative regarding the Celebrity Board please contact:
Linda Benjamin: email: lbenjamin@ndvh.org ; phone: 512-743-8897 or
Denise Oviedo: email doviedo@ndvh.org; phone: 512-685-6285
Martina McBride
Grammy award-winner Martina McBride is a producer, artist and songwriter. Her powerhouse voice has earned her more than 18 million 
in album sales, garnered 22 Top 10 singles, six of which ranked number one and enjoyed success in multiple genres, and awarded her a mantle of honors, including a record tying four CMA Female Vocalist of the Year trophies. The Kansas native’s fiery, passionate vocals have created such signature hits as “Independence Day,” “Wild Angels,” “A Broken Wing,” “Blessed” and “This One’s for the Girls.” These songs along with hits such as “Concrete Angel,” “Love’s The Only House,” “God’s Will” and “Anyway” have become not only memorable musical statements but resounding social commentaries as well. With the release of her 10th studio album, SHINE, Martina McBride has partnered with loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline to take a stand against dating abuse and help educate teens about healthy relationships. Proceeds from the sale of My Time to Shine merchandise will help raise funds to benefit the helpline.
www.martina-mcbride.com
Martina McBride Joins Effort to Promote Healthy Teen Dating Relationships
Salma Hayek
Noted for her acting career, Hayek has also dedicated much of her time to social activism. Hayek served as spokesperson for the Pampers/UNICEF partnership in the U.S. and Canada to help stop the spread of life-threatening maternal and neonatal tetanus. She also served as the spokesperson for the Avon Foundation’s Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, which focuses on domestic violence education, awareness and prevention, as well as support for victims. In 2005, she spoke in front the US Senate, encouraging its members to extend the Violence Against Women Act. In January 2006, the legislation was passed, ensuring that 3.9 billion dollars will be allocated to thousands of domestic violence crisis and intervention agencies throughout the US. Also in 2006, Hayek was honored at the NDVH Vital Link Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC as the Voices for Change award recipient.
Salma Hayek accepts NDVH’s Voices for Change Award
Victor Rivers
Victor Rivers began his career as a free agent and the first Cuban-American to be given a two season tryout with the Miami Dolphins during the 1978-79 seasons. He then went on to pursue an acting career, starring in more than two dozen films, as well as appearing in television and on stage. His credits include the cult hit Blood In/Blood Out, The Mask of Zorro, Amistad and What’s Cooking. He has also appeared in comedies including 
The Distinguished Gentleman, Arli$$ and A Million to Juan. Most recently, Victor has been a part of the cast of NBC’s Life series.
Victor Rivers was a victim of extreme child abuse and witnessed his mother being a victim of domestic violence, both of which were committed by his father—a story he told in his book, A Private Family Matter. He is a devoted advocate of, and activist for, domestic violence prevention and was honored by the National Domestic Violence Hotline with a Special Tribute for Advocacy and Social Change at its Vital Links Awards Ceremony in New York in 2008.
Robin Givens
Robin Givens began her acting career in 1985 with an appearance on the The Cosby Show, followed by roles in Diff’rent Strokes, television film Beverly Hills Madam and a breakthrough role as rich girl Darlene Merriman on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class, lasting five seasons. She later appeared in numerous films including the 1992 hit Boomerang. In June 2007, Givens released her autobiography Grace Will Lead Me Home.
Robin Givens is a survivor of domestic violence and is an advocate against domestic violence and shares her story in an effort to shed light on the issue. Givens is a a 2007 recipient of the Vital Link Voices for Change Award.
Greg Behrendt
Greg Behrendt is a standup comic first and foremost. His comedy resume features HBO’s Mantastic, Comedy Central Presents and Uncool, seen exclusively on Comedy Central, as well as many appearances on late night shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Although he is not a relationship expert by his own admission, the former consultant for Sex and the City is also co-author of three books, including the widely successful He’s Just Not That Into You, which has recently been adapted into a blockbuster motion picture.
Greg Behrendt became and advocate for domestic violence when he began receiving emails from women in abusive relationships. He has recently partnered with the National Domestic Violence Hotline and donates a portion of proceeds from his shows to the organization.
www.gregbehrendt.com
Camille Winbush
Camille Winbush is an American actress. Her work in television has earned her three Image Awards and a Young Artist Award. She received her big break playing the role of Bernie Mac’s niece on the FOX comedy The Bernie Mac Show. She has appeared in numerous television shows as well as hit films such as Dangerous Minds, Eraser and Ghost Dog. Currently, Winbush can be seen playing Lauren, a recurring character on the ABC Family family drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Camille Winbush was one of the first celebrities to speak out against teen dating abuse. In 2007, she partnered with loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline to launch the Teen Dating Bill of Rights and was featured in their first Public Service Announcement.
Camille Winbush Teen Dating Bill of Rights Public Service Announcement.
Leslie Morgan Steiner
Leslie Morgan Steiner is the author of New York Times bestseller Crazy Love. Her memoir about surviving domestic violence shares her triumphant story of enduring four years of attacks by her first husband and eventually escaping and rebuilding her life. Steiner is a successful businesswoman, wife and mother of three and also is the editor of the critically-acclaimed anthology Mommy Wars: Stay-at-Home and Career Moms Face Off on Their Choices, Their Lives, Their Families. She has written over 500 columns for the Washington Post’s popular online work/family column, On Balance and currently writes the weekly column Two Cents on Working Motherhood, for Mommy Track’d: The Working Mother’s Guide to Managed Chaos. Her writing has appeared in popular publications such as Glamour, Psychology Today and RedBook, and she is a regular guest on the Today Show, National Public Radio, ABC, NBC, CBS and many more. Leslie embodies living proof that abuse can happen to anyone regardless of education, age, nationality, and income level. By sharing her story, she has also become an inspiration for others to seek solutions, overcome abuse, and tell their own stories in a way that will help countless others.
“During the ten years it took to write Crazy Love, my story about surviving an abusive marriage as a young Harvard graduate in my early 20s, well-meaning friends and family often asked me tough questions: Why did I want to bring such an ugly part of my past into my happy present day life with my second husband and three young children? Wasn’t I afraid of retaliation from my ex-husband for telling the truth about what he did to me? Wouldn’t it be wise to use a pseudonym to hide my identity? As I struggled with these issues, I always came back to the same answer: no one who has been abused deserves to live in fear or shame. All victims can feel proud of turning a terrible life experience into a force for greater strength, compassion and wisdom.”
www.lesliemorgansteiner.com
Judge Jeanine Pirro
JUDGE JEANINE PIRRO Jeanine Pirro is a highly respected former District Attorney and county judge, elected politician, sought-after legal commentator, author, champion of women’s rights, and mother of two. She now brings her many years of professional and life experience to the daytime television court genre.
Born in the small upstate New York farming town of Elmira in 1951, Pirro (née Ferris) is one of New York’s most acclaimed politicians. She graduated from Notre Dame High School, earned a B.A. from the University of Buffalo, and received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Albany Law School. After law school, Pirro became an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County in 1978, and in 1989, she became the first female judge to sit on the county court bench.
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Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her film debut in Paramount Pictures’ “Children of a Lesser God,” for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress. At 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and only one of four actresses to receive the honor for her film debut. In addition to the Oscar, Marlee received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. Marlee also starred in her own NBC series “Reasonable Doubts” opposite Mark Harmon and the Emmy Award winning Picket Fences for CBS. Marlee was twice nominated for both a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Drama as well as the People’s Choice Awards and has been nominated for four Emmy awards for her guest appearances on “Seinfeld, “Picket Fences,” The Practice and Law and Order: SVU. Marlee also starred for seven years on the award winning drama, The West Wing, and has made numerous guest appearances including ER, Desperate Housewives, CSI: New York, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Desperate Housewives. In 2007, she joined the cast of the groundbreaking Showtime series, The L Word and in 2008 challenged America to read my hips when she starred on ABCs Dancing with the Stars. She has authored three novels for children, “Deaf Child Crossing,” Nobodys Perfect and Leading Ladies and in 2009, published her New York Times Best Selling autobiography, Ill Scream Later. In 1994, Marlee was appointed by President Clinton to the Corporation for National Service and served as Chairperson for National Volunteer Week and was honored in a Rose Garden ceremony. Marlee currently serves as a national celebrity spokesperson for The American Red Cross and was instrumental in getting legislation passed in Congress in support of Closed Captioning. She also serves on the boards of a number of charitable organizations including The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and Easter Seals. She has received numerous awards for her charity work and was chosen as America On Line’s “Chief Everything Officer.”
http://www.marleematlinsite.com/
Additional celebrities National Domestic Violence Hotline and National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline would like to thank and recognize for their awareness of domestic violence:
Jason Witten
Mariska Hargitay
Patricia Arquette
Jaslene Gonzalez
Michael Bolton
Tim Gunn
S. Epatha Merkerson
Linda Fairstein
Gretchen Carlson
Catherine Crier
Tracy Smith