To help stop domestic violence, one Penn State campus literally and figuratively is "lending a hand."

The program "These Hands Weren't Made for Hurting" will use hands of all shapes and sizes to cover the walls of Penn State Altoona College's Slep Student Center today.

Sponsored by the campus' Office of Student Life and the Student Activity Fee, the project aims to help raise domestic violence awareness and promote a positive message of care and concern within the community.

The hands, however, are not only those of Penn State Altoona students, faculty and community members. People such as Tiger Woods, Stockard Channing, Rusty Wallace, the cast of Friends, members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mark Martin and Joe Paterno have sent autographed pledges and other memorabilia to help raise money for the event.

Those who pledge for the event are promising "to use their hands, minds and voices to keep everyone free and away from violence," said Gina Baird, assistant director of student life at Penn State Altoona College.

"The most significant pledge was from Tiger Woods and his foundation. We received a letter authorizing his foundation to support this cause as well as a genuine autographed picture," said David Shields, director of student affairs at Altoona.

To raise money, a silent auction of the memorabilia and autographed pledges from the celebrities will be sponsored in the Slep Student Center from noon to 8 p.m. today.

"Last year we raised about $2,000 and this year we are hoping to raise even more," Baird said.

All the profits will be donated to Family Services of Blair County.

"The funds go into our domestic abuse project for women and families as well as our crime victims' support services," said Connie Cavrich, director of development for Family Services of Blair County.

She said the contributions will help to provide better counseling facilities.

Shields said the program has benefited the students at Altoona by highlighting the issue of domestic violence at the university.

"Unfortunately we see it every year and it is a topic that greatly affects college students but just isn't talked a lot about," Shields said.

To provide information regarding domestic violence, Family Services also will have a table set up at the event. The campus will ensure that students have enough resources and facilities to seek help and support in such times of need, Shields said.

"We are not only doing the program but also support it as well, through our own centers by providing proper services, personnel and resources," Shields said.

Those involved in "These Hands Weren't Made for Hurting" hope the program will continue to grow and flourish in the future.

"For the last two years, we have been running the program. This year it seems to be growing even more," Shields said. "I really hope that this year will be a banner year for them (Family Services)."