Purina recognized gymnast and advocate Aly Raisman at the 2025 Variety Power of Women event presented by Lifetime on October 29 for her advocacy on behalf of abuse survivors. The recognition highlighted Raisman's work showing how pets can support trauma recovery, aligning with the Purple Leash Project, a joint initiative between Purina and RedRover to support domestic abuse survivors and their pets.
Fellow gymnast Jordan Chiles presented the Variety Courage Award, sponsored by Purina, to Raisman at the Los Angeles event.
"Aly, you've used your platform to change laws, to hold institutions accountable and to create safe spaces for survivors to be heard," Chiles said in her speech. "You've shown that being powerful doesn't mean being fearless – it means being afraid and doing it anyway. This award recognizes not just Aly's advocacy, but also her understanding that survivors on both ends of the leash need support."
Raisman's advocacy has brought attention to survivor resources, mental health support and the role of the human-animal bond in recovery. Her dogs have played a role in her personal healing journey.
"Healing is like a path without a map," Raisman said as she accepted the award. "It just takes time. Hope can look different to each of us and shows up in many forms. One source of hope for me has been my dog, Mylo. Almost five years ago today, I adopted him. It's hard to put into words the impact that Mylo has had on my life. He reminds me to never take for granted the love, safety and gift of being present."
Raisman noted that 48% of domestic abuse survivors delay leaving because they cannot bring their pets with them. The Purple Leash Project works to address this by providing resources to help domestic violence shelters across the U.S. become pet friendly.
"Aly Raisman's willingness to advocate for survivors and prevent future abuse by sharing her own experience is a remarkable example of courage in action," said Nina Leigh Krueger, CEO of Purina. "The role that Aly's dogs have played in her healing journey speaks to the incredible power of the bond we share with the pets we love, and it's one of the many reasons why Purina is so committed to protecting abuse survivors and their pets in times of crisis."
Raisman is the second recipient of the Variety Courage Award presented by Purina. In 2024, Purina honored actor and domestic abuse survivor Sarah Hyland with the inaugural award. Purina and Hyland have partnered to raise awareness and funds for the Purple Leash Project through the Courageous Together collection, a collection of items for pets and people curated by Hyland. The collection launched in September and is available at Shop.PurpleLeashProject.com, with 100% of purchases donated to RedRover.
According to Petfood Industry's Top Pet Food Companies, Nestlé Purina PetCare manufactures, markets and distributes pet food, treats and cat litter, primarily known for brands like Purina Pro Plan, Dog Chow, Friskies and Beneful. It is a subsidiary of Nestlé, the global food company, and is considered one of the leading pet care brands worldwide.
