Alliance targets domestic violence

WARWICK, R.I.—Alliance Security, based here, is helping victims of domestic abuse with free installation, monitoring and maintenance of home alarm systems.

Alliance teamed with the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) to form Friends of RICADV, Alliance COO Brian Fabiano told Security Systems News.

The residential security company earlier this year made a $10,000 donation to support RICADV's education and awareness efforts, but that wasn't enough, Fabiano said.

“It's easy to write a check and walk away. We wanted to get involved and do something we're good at, which is protecting homes,” he said, noting that domestic violence affects one in four women nationally.

Alliance came up with the idea for the free program in April and brought it to RICADV. It got off the ground over the summer, he said.

Alliance was set to install its 30^th home security system under the program in early November, Fabiano said.

Recipients—victims of domestic violence referred by RICADV or one of its seven member agencies—are offered Alliance's services free for one year, he said. At the end of the year, those services could be continued at no charge or offered at discounts, depending on recommendations from RICADV, which is now in its 35^th year, Fabiano said.

The security system features depend upon the individual's needs.

“Whatever they feel they need to be safe” is what Alliance will provide, Fabiano said. Usually it's just securing windows and doors, he said.

The system includes the 2GIG Go!Control panel and monitoring by Monitronics.

The program's success so far is difficult to quantify because “one of the challenges is the anonymity, protecting the victims,” he said. Because of that anonymity, Alliance doesn't hear if their systems have prevented any attacks. Technicians don't even know if they're installing under the program, he said.

“So we don't know the success, but we hope” it has helped, he said.

The company also has made an effort to get its employees involved in RICADV's mission. Company CEO Jay Gotra has been active in the organization's “Ten Men” campaign to get men throughout Rhode Island to proactively address domestic violence.

Alliance's long-term goal is to expand its program with RICADV to other parts of the country. Alliance currently has a customer base in 35 states.

RICADV is Alliance's primary philanthropic recipient, but the company culture also helps other local organizations as well, including Rhode Island's Adopt-A-Family association.

“We gave Christmas (gifts) to 47 children last year. It's a big to-do, the whole company gets involved,” Fabiano said.

This year, through that same program, Alliance is hoping to provide gifts for 100 children. “We've tried to grow that every year. We're going to see if we can get customers involved with an online site,” he said.

Alliance, in business for 11 years, will have served 100,000 customers by the end of this year.