Today, Valentine's Day is V-Day 2005 in Over 1100 Colleges and Communities

SEVEN YEARS SINCE V-DAY MOVEMENT LAUNCHED ON VALENTINE’S DAY, OVER 2500 BENEFITS OF “THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES” TO TAKE PLACE, THE MOST IN THE MOVEMENT’S HISTORY

Thousands of community-based V-Day benefit events of The Vagina Monologues to take place February - March 2005 in the U.S. (all 50 states) and around the world

Seven years since the first V-Day benefit launched a global movement to end violence against women and girls, over 2500 V-Day benefits of “The Vagina Monologues” are taking place in 1116 colleges and communities (719 college events and nearly 400 community events) around the world, the most in the movement’s seven year history. Between February – March 2005, V-Day benefits of playwright/founder Eve Ensler’s play “The Vagina Monologues” are taking place in locations including Australia, Belgium, El Salvador (in a women’s prison), Costa Rica, Jamaica, Nigeria, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and all 50 states in the United States.

From One NYC Benefit on Valentine’s Day 1998 To 2500 Worldwide Benefits in 2005
V-Day emerged from one benefit on Valentine’s Day 1998 to over 2500 benefits worldwide in 2005. The very first V-Day benefit, held on February 14, 1998l, was a star studded production of Ensler’s hit play “The Vagina Monlogues” and featured actresses Marisa Tomei, Mary Alice, Glenn Close, Lily Tomlin, Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Rosie Perez and more. The event raised funds for local anti-violence groups and birthed the movement. Founding V-Day, Ensler enabled local activists to produce benefit of “The Vagina Monologues,” granting them the rights to play if it raised awareness of the issue and the proceeds benefited local charities working to end violence against women. The following year (1999), over 70 V-Day benefits of Ensler’s play took place in the US and London. In 2000, over 160 events took place. In 2001, over 250 events occurred including the V-Day at NYC’s Madison Square Garden featuring over 70 actresses including Oprah. In 2002, over 800 events took the movement grassroots and global. In 2003, over 1000 events occurred. In 2004, over 2300 V-Day benefit events were presented by volunteer activists around the world, educating millions of people about the issue of violence against women and girls, raising $6 million and benefiting over 1000 organizations.

V-Day 2005
The 2005 theme: Vagina Warriors Lead The Way will resonate throughout the movement’s campaigns, grassroots events, first book, DVD release, and overall communications. V-Day Founder/Artistic Director and Playwright “The Vagina Monologues” Eve Ensler will visit a selection of colleges and communities who are staging V-Day 2005 benefits of her play “The Vagina Monologues.” Eve will also appear at book signings for V-Day’s first book Vagina Warriors in some cities.

V-Day organizers around the globe will highlight and raise funds for the 2005 Spotlight campaign entitled, Women of Iraq: Under Siege. Monies raised will benefit groups on the ground in Iraq including the Organization for Women’s Freedom In Iraq who are building safe houses for women to protect them from honor killings and lack of security. Many V-Day organizers are selling the movement’s first book Vagina Warriors (Bulfinch Press) and first DVD “Until The Violence Stops” (Netflix/Docurama) at their events. Overall, our local organizers are getting the word out on their events so effectively that in January alone local, national and web media articles about V-Day reached 4.9 million readers.

Each year the V-Day movement expands as new cities and communities stage benefits, raising awareness and funds for critical anti-violence shelters, programs and groups.

To schedule interviews with Eve Ensler or a V-Day spokesperson, contact Susan Celia Swan, (212) 253-1823.