Joe Torre's charity runs 30 school support sites for children affected by abuse

Children who experience violence at home may find it difficult to speak about what is happening to them. Some may also believe they are responsible for the problems within their families. A foundation started by former New York Yankees manager Joe Torre and his wife, Ali, aims to help such children find support within their schools.The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation now operates 30 school-based support centres under its Margaret's Place programme.

The centres provide counselling and safe spaces for students affected by domestic violence, abuse and trauma. The foundation says it reached more than 49,000 children during the current year.According the organisation's webiste, it has directly served more than 275,000 young people, their families, schools and communities since it was established in 2002. Its work is based on the belief that children should have access to trusted adults and a safe environment where they can discuss difficult experiences.For Torre, the initiative has a personal connection.

He grew up in a household where his father abused his mother, Margaret. The experience affected his childhood and continued to influence how he viewed himself during his professional baseball career.He and Ali established Safe At Home to address domestic violence and abuse through education. The foundation's school programme was named Margaret's Place in honour of his mother. It was designed to give children access to the kind of support that can be difficult to find when violence is taking place within their homes.Schools provide safe place to seek helpMargaret's Place operates through dedicated rooms inside schools.

Students can visit these spaces to talk to someone or spend time in an environment where they feel comfortable. The foundation says respect and confidentiality are central to how these rooms function.The programme offers individual and group counselling to students affected by violence and trauma. It also gives them an opportunity to connect with others who may have faced similar situations.The aim is to make it easier for children to seek help rather than keep their experiences to themselves.

Students can speak about their concerns without feeling that they have to deal with everything alone.The foundation also tracks how students respond to the support they receive. Its reported figures show that 94% of students said they felt safer after receiving help through the programme.Another 88% said talking to someone had become easier than keeping their feelings to themselves.

The organisation also reported that 91% of students felt more confident and had better self-esteem. In addition, 95% said they were more hopeful about their future.These figures are part of the foundation's reported impact assessment. They reflect the changes students said they experienced through the programme.Torre's childhood shaped foundation's missionTorre's decision to work on domestic violence was connected to what he witnessed while growing up in Brooklyn, New York.

He was the youngest of five children. His father, who worked as a New York Police Department officer, abused his mother.Although Torre went on to build a successful baseball career, he said his experiences at home affected his confidence and how he dealt with setbacks.In an interview published by Major League Baseball in 2019, Torre spoke about feeling responsible when his team lost games.

He often believed there was something more he could have done to prevent a defeat.He also recalled how difficult it was to understand the violence in his home as a child. His mother did not discuss the abuse with him, even though he could see its effects.“I felt like I was responsible for what was going on, because there was a lot of whispering going on in my house, and my mom would never share it with me, even though I saw the results of what my dad did to her,” Torre said.He did not speak publicly about his childhood experiences for many years.

He later understood that the feelings of guilt and low self-esteem he carried were connected to what had happened at home.His experience also influenced the message he wanted the foundation to communicate to children facing similar circumstances.“The most important thing that they realize is that they’re not alone and it’s not their fault,” Torre said while discussing the programme.He explained that the support offered through Margaret's Place was not a cure for violence at home.

Children would still have to return to their families and deal with their circumstances. However, the programme could give them tools to handle those situations and help build their confidence and self-respect.Programme has expanded since its launchWhen MLB reported on the foundation in August 2019, it had 15 Margaret's Place programmes in four US states. Nearly 100,000 students had been connected with resources through its work at that time.The organisation now lists 30 school programme sites across New York City, Westchester, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Tahiti.

These locations serve students from kindergarten through Class 12.The foundation's work also involves families and school communities. Its stated mission is to prevent domestic violence and abuse through education and provide support to young people affected by trauma.Safe At Home is continuing its fundraising efforts to maintain and expand these services. Ali and Joe Torre are scheduled to host the foundation's 2026 Annual New York Gala on November 12 at Gotham Hall in New York City.The event will honour Darrell and Beth Rigel for their support of the organisation.

Proceeds are expected to help sustain its programmes in New York and other locations.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.