Cowboys’ Jason Witten Speaks Out Against Family Violence

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is coming to a television screen near you – and not just on game days.

Witten will be seen in a new public service announcement – released statewide today – bringing awareness to domestic violence.

Growing up in an abusive home, Witten has seen firsthand what violence can do and is urging men to speak out against it.

“This is something we can fight and hopefully bring an end to,” Witten said today.

As a child living outside Washington D.C., he witnessed the verbal and physical violence his father inflicted on his mom and older brothers. His life changed when his mom left his dad and she took him and his brothers to live with their grandfather.

Witten has intermittent contact with his father, but he holds no grudge. He has said wants his father to know the two sons he has with wife, Michelle.

The Allstate Foundation donated $100,000 to the Jason Witten SCORE Foundation and teamed up with the Texas Council on Family Violence to make the public service announcement possible.

SCORE – which stands for Support, Community, Overcome, Rebuild, Educate – was founded last year and helps families in crisis overcome hardships and rebuild their lives.

- Blanca Cantu, Todd Archer, Dallas Morning News