Sanctuary for Families was first introduced to me by my daughter-in-law, Alexandra Hochman, while she was an intern at Sanctuary during her summers at Cardoza law school.

Her passion for helping women and children who were the victims of domestic violence ultimately led her to the Association for Children Services, and me to become a board member at Sanctuary for Families.

It was a perfect fit for both of us. Sanctuary filled a special place for me and my company. It gave us at Carole Hochman Design Group a chance to give back to women; not as lucky as ourselves.

On reflecting on the significance of the word Sanctuary -- I remembered that after a recent renovation of my weekend home, I received a note from my architect saying that he hopes that my new house would become my sanctuary (a sacred place -- one of refuge and asylum). Wow -- and I was only escaping from the stress of work and the city. How lucky I have been.

I have been blessed with a wonderful life, a caring family and a career designing luxurious lingerie for women with beautiful homes and a safe place to go at the end of the day.

Very often, the best time of my day is going home and putting on my PJs.

It was shocking to learn of women and children needing to escape in the night from their abusers with only the clothes on their backs; no longer having a place to call home.

Thank God to Sarah Burke for the Sanctuary she created.

It gives me great pleasure to be able to bring a little comfort to each woman who enters Sarah Burke house by providing her with a new cozy robe and PJ to call her own.

When you look at your life, the greatest happiness comes from family. Sanctuary becomes the family for those in need -- in an impossible situation. They provide the safe place, the support and the self-confidence to start again and move forward.

I have also learned that we are rich by what we give and the best part of having a successful business is to be able to do things to bring attention to people who need help.

Domestic Violence is a problem that needs constant attention and we can make a difference, one victim at a time.