Meet Laura Pahules | Founder of Control Alt Delete

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Pahules and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Control Alt Delete was founded 9/2/2019 to bridge the gap in services for people that need to escape.

Having worked a number of years in the nonprofit sector, I noticed that domestic violence was prominent in every single area of human services from the unhoused to foster care to food insecurity. While there are wonderful shelters in Arizona I started looking into who helps Survivors actually leave. I wondered who helps if the Survivor has a support system but no way to get to that system.
After speaking with many local Survivors they all explained how there was no help available to them when they were ready to escape which was certainly the case when I was escaping many years ago.
I wanted to help in that immediate time of need and empower not enable Survivors. Many of the nonprofits I had been with before or volunteered with or supported enabled the people they served instead of empowering them with the means propel themselves from the situations they were in.

Control Alt Delete bridges the gap in services by removing the barriers that keep people in unsafe domestic violence situations by providing one time assistance to escape.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Control Alt Delete helps in 4 key ways: Transportation – cab & ride share rides, fuel, bus tickets to get to safety.
Lodging – up to a 2 night hotel stay.
Hygiene & Grocery assistance
Safety – security cameras, new door locks and safety kits.
But every escape is unique with it’s own barriers to remove so we take each individual escape, identify the barriers then swiftly work to remove them.

Since Control Alt Delete is not state or federally funded we do not have the constraints that many other agencies have when providing services, specifically when helping Survivors get to their support in other cities, counties or states.

We also do not ask for or track demographics, believing that anyone needing help to escape should have that ability. This has proven a barrier of it’s own when applying for grant funding at times. Many funders want to know specifically if a certain population is being served.

I’d love for people to know that the services Control Alt Delete provides are unique and much needed. Although it seems simple in nature, the work is challenging especially funding. But with 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men being abused right now the need is great. You probably know someone domestic violence has impacted. Because of those numbers it has helped with individual donations which sad but needed at the same time.

I knew there was a need for Control Alt Delete, I did not realize how great that need would be. Since being founded on 9/2/2019 we have facilitated 12,232 escapes from domestic violence that have included 23,785 children. The need is great and is steadily increasing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First I would invite them to a Control Alt Delete Stride for Survivors walk which take place on the last Saturday of every month in the Control Alt Delete neighborhood in Mesa.

Then I would introduce them to Tough Lotus in Chandler to try their bungee fitness classes. After that we would head to Jimmy G’s in Mesa for a lunch of gourmet mac & cheese or one of their amazing salads.

The next day would include trip to Breakthrough Smash Room in Phoenix, a great stress reliver and so much fun!

No trip to Arizona would be complete without a stop at the Queen Creek Olive Mill to visit the Olive Spa!

We would have a morning hike with Desert Donkey Experiences and desserts by Simply Sierra Sweets.

For some fun family time we would go to Tranquil Games in Gilbert to have some quality time bonding over board games.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a shadow of a doubt my husband Peter has been my biggest supporter. He believes in me when I doubt myself. He encourages when I am feeling overwhelmed. He helps whenever we have a need and is always the first to jump right in.

I have had some incredible mentors over the years but in all honesty the best lessons I have learned are what NOT to do as the founder and CEO/president of a nonprofit. The things I have seen! From nepotism to misappropriated funds to biased hiring practices to out right fraud to encouraging clients to lie to get services and more.

I knew that there would never be a reason or need for Control Alt Delete to come under any type of scrutiny. We are transparent and since we are 100% volunteer run one dollar of every dollar donated goes directly to helping people escape domestic violence.

Website: https://dvcontrolaltdelete.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dv.ctrlaltdel/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dv-control-alt-delete/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dvctrlaltdel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dv.ctrlaltdel/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dv.ctrlaltdel