Sarah Hyland breaks down in tears, thanks Julie Bowen and gives a speech to survivors of abuse

“Modern Family” star and “Love Island USA” host Sarah Hyland spoke at the annual gala for in Los Angeles on Thursday evening diversity Power of Women presented by Lifetime. The four-time SAG Award winner was honored in her speech at the opening event diversity Courage Award presented by Purina for her work raising awareness about animal welfare and domestic violence.

“Accepting this award for courage made me think about what this word means to me. It takes courage to wake up every morning and face the world knowing that people may have no idea what you are going through,” Hyland said in her speech. “It’s all too easy to feel isolated and misunderstood, no matter how strong you are.”

Hyland went on to praise the award's sponsor, Purina, and its animal rights activist partner RedRover for their Purple Leash Project, which helps make domestic violence shelters “pet-friendly.” As Hyland indicated, nearly half of domestic violence survivors postpone their departure because they cannot take their pets with them. Additionally, fewer than 20 percent of domestic violence shelters accept animals. The Purple Leash Project hopes to help survivors bring their furry friends without having to make “an impossible choice between their safety and the safety of their pets.”

“Since 2019, Purina and RedRover have provided more than 50 grants to the Purple Leash Project
“There are domestic violence shelters all over the country,” Hyland said. “In the world of isolation they live in, the power of letting them know they are not alone cannot be underestimated.”

As a victim of domestic violence herself, Hyland believes it is crucial to raise awareness and increase access to support systems. In her diversity In the Power of Women interview, the actress shared that she believes victims haven't had a space to share their stories “for thousands of years,” but she hopes to help change that through her own openness on the topic change.

“I believe that if we talk about this more, more women – and men and people in abusive relationships in general – will feel more comfortable talking about it with their loved ones, rather than letting their abuser isolate them from everyone.” This is the first thing they do to stop this community from happening,” Hyland said. “So we have to keep talking about it. It’s really important to be able to help those in need.”

Before accepting her award, Hyland was introduced by her “Modern Family” co-star Julie Bowen, who played her mother on the show for 11 seasons. Check out her introduction below.