One in Four: New Third Space IPA raising money and attention for domestic violence

If you need help with a domestic violence relationship, click this link to access Sojourner Family Peace Center's confidential resources.

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lifetime, according to a study released earlier this year.

For that reason, Third Space Brewing named its newest IPA One in Four to raise awareness of the crisis.

In addition to one in four women, one in nine men also experience domestic violence. Those figures are just what's reported, the actual impact is likely worse.

The lead brewer at Third Space lost a loved one to domestic violence last year, and now he's trying to make a difference and save lives.

Matt Cisz said, "I think we all know four women; I think we all know nine men. So the reality is we all know someone."

Cisz's one in four was his wife's niece, Karissa Peronto. Karissa was killed last October in Ashwaubenon after trying to leave a violent relationship.

Cisz said, "She did everything she could. She changed her locks, she put in security cameras. Purchased a firearm, staying with family and friends."

But the outcome was still tragic. That spurred Matt to act.

One in Four is Third Space's latest offering in its "pints for a purpose" program. Matt says they intentionally went for shock value with the name. "That is just a staggering statistic. It stops people in their tracks and gets them thinking."

The brewery is partnering with Sojourner Family Peace Center. A rollout event was held Friday evening.

The beer is on tap at the Third Space taproom, but it's not the only place you can make a difference. One in Four will be carried in stores throughout the state. All the proceeds will go straight to Sojourner.

Naomi Gould is the Donor Impact Officer at Sojourner. She said, "It happens behind closed doors, and people are afraid to say something."

Gould wants people to feel safe to come forward.

So far this year there have been more than a dozen domestic homicides in the city of Milwaukee, and Gould says it impacts everyone.

She said, "We know that violence is a learned behavior. And when children grow up in violent homes, most likely they grow up being violent as well in their relationships."

Sojourner has an emergency hotline, a shelter for survivors, offers legal assistance with restraining orders, and provides healing services for survivors after they've experienced trauma.

Gould said, "We can't bring back the lives that we lost, but we hope that we can save more lives. And we hope we can truly put an end to domestic violence. And all types of violence."

Gould recalled how one survivor told her how educating children helped her. "Her daughter, in school, learned about what a healthy relationship is. [She] came home from school and said 'Mom, I don't think you're in a healthy relationship.'"

Which is why Matt Cisz said it's critical everyone does more to bring those conversations out of the shadows to let people know help is out there.

Cisz said, "At the end of the day, we have to talk about it. We have to stop sweeping things under the rug because more people are affected by this than we think."

Third Space is encouraging people to donate on Sojourner's website. You can mention the One in Four beer there.

If you need help with a domestic violence relationship, click this link to access Sojourner Family Peace Center's confidential resources.