Christina Aguilera emotionally accepted an award from a domestic violence shelter, and in doing so, beautifully spoke about her own experiences.

The singer was honored with the Community Hero award from The Shade Tree, the only 24-hour accessible shelter for victims of domestic violence in Southern Nevada.

“It’s just disgusting and it happens far too much to people that we do love,” she said in a video posted to her Instagram account. “And it is very dear to my heart, because I did grow up in [violence] and I’m a survivor of it — as I’m sure many of you are — and I’m affected by it.”

“It’s so important, the work that you put into this,” she added. “That so many volunteers [put into this], and your donations. They do mean so much to me.”

She later spoke more on Instagram, writing: “I remember often having to up and escape in the middle of the night with my mom & little sister, having just the clothes on our backs, to drive cross country for shelter at my grandma’s house. Without that, I would have had to turn to a place like @shadetreevegas for shelter.”

Christina donates $1 from every ticket sold for her Las Vegas residency show to the organization, according to Entertainment Tonight.

We love, Christina. Thanks for being such a powerful ally.