Modern Family” actress and “Love Island USA” host Sarah Hyland delivered a speech on Thursday night in Los Angeles during the annual Variety Power of Women gala presented by Lifetime.
The four-time SAG Award winner was recognized at the event with the inaugural Variety Courage Award, sponsored by Purina, for her efforts to raise awareness about animal welfare and domestic abuse.
“Accepting this award for courage has made me think about what that word means to me.
“It takes courage to wake up every morning and face the world knowing that people may have no idea what you are going through,” Hyland said in her speech.
“It’s all too easy to feel isolated and misunderstood, no matter how strong you are.”
Hyland went on to praise the award’s sponsor, Purina, and its animal rights activist partner RedRover for their Purple Leash Project, which helps domestic violence shelters become “pet-friendly.”
As Hyland indicated, nearly half of domestic abuse survivors delay leaving because they can’t take their pets with them.
Additionally, fewer than 20 percent of domestic violence shelters accept animals.
The Purple Leash Project hopes to help survivors bring their furry friends along without having to make “an impossible choice between their safety and the safety of their pets.”
“Since 2019, Purina and RedRover have provided more than 50 Purple Leash Project grants to domestic violence shelters across the country,” Hyland said.
“In the world of isolation they’ve been living in, you cannot underestimate the power of letting them know they’re not alone.”
As a survivor of domestic abuse, raising awareness and improving access to support systems is crucial to Hyland’s mission.
Before receiving her award, Hyland was introduced by her “Modern Family” co-star Julie Bowen, who portrayed her mother on the show for 11 seasons.
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