Searching for Angela Shelton Inspiring and Empowering

Not many people would go to the lengths Angela Shelton did to heal a heart.

Shelton, a Hollywood screenwriter who was sexually abused by her father as a child, drove all over the country interviewing other people with her namesake to find out if they, too were victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse.

Driving 13, 261 miles Shelton found 24 out of 40 Angela Sheltons who had experienced the same things she had. One Angela lived in the same town as Shelton's abusive dad.

Black and white, from nurses to doctors, young and old, many women with the same name had been abused as discovered by Shelton over a 57-day period. Most of the Sheltons have met each other.

The Angela Shelton Foundation was born out of the response from a documentary, "Searching for Angela Shelton" which has garnered numerous awards. The series was produced by her company, Hilltop Productions.

After receiving countless emails from abuse survivors all over the world and speaking at organizations and universities in over 27 states, Shelton has met thousands of survivors who want to heal and don't know how.

In answer to the thousands of emails Shelton started a new series for survivors.

"This is more than just a movie, this is a movement," says Shelton. "The shock of breaking my silence as well as going to see my father did not hit me until I edited the film and was faced with watching the footage over and over again."

Shelton said she has seen many people come forward, break their silence, and change their lives forever.

Many survivors have post-traumatic stress disorder and find it hard to search for and find help, becoming daunted in the process.

The organization is still waiting on their non-profit status.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Searching for Angela Shelton Store will go to the foundation.

"Whether you know it or not, you know someone who was a victim of abuse," the website states.

On Nov. 6, 2004 the major of Asheville, N.C. signed a proclamation making it Angela Shelton Day in honor of abuse survivors.