Domestic Violence Awareness Month Edition, 2012 |
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month
It's Domestic Violence Awareness Month! This month we've provided numerous presentations to community organizations across the city, educating them on domestic violence and what we can do to prevent it. We partnered with Grupo de Teatro Somos Todos, Catedral de la Familia and Latin American consulates to present the Spanish-language play "Te Prometo Que No Volvera a Pasar" that educates about the effects of domestic violence. In addition, we hosted a Twitter party with LATISM resulting in 1,003 tweets, and hosted phone banks with Univision and Fox News, with a total of 150 people calling in and speaking to our advocates. Currently, we have Remember My Name cards on display outside our building with the names of the 23 women who lost their lives to domestic violence in Harris County in 2011. In honor of this month we've also launched our official blog, www.hawctalk.org featuring stories from survivors, staff and volunteers. We've received great media coverage on numerous television and radio stations, and in the newspaper. We're hard at work this month, and we thank you for all your support and encouragement as we work together fighting against domestic and sexual violence. Without our volunteers, friends and supporters, this would not be possible. Thank you! |
Sue L. Nguyen Children's Enrichment Center
On behalf of our board, staff,
volunteers, and most importantly our clients we would like to thank the family of the late Sue Nguyen for their contribution to assist the children residing in our shelter. The Children's Enrichment Center at the shelter bears Sue Nguyen's name in memory of her passionate commitment to help young people positively transform their lives. Sue was a devoted and esteemed guidance counselor in HISD for more than 20 years. Her dedication, compassion and energy influenced many young people of all races and nationalities. On September 18th of last year, Sue passed away, leaving behind a lasting legacy and an extraordinary gift to the Houston Area Women's Center. It's only fitting that our Children's Enrichment Center will now bear her name. To read more about Sue Nguyen and the needed improvements we will be making to our Children's Enrichment Center with her gift, visit here. |
Volunteer Recognition Event
Our volunteer recognition event was another great success this year! Brenda Furman received the 2012 Marla Weinstein Volunteer Award of the year for her work in our counseling department and hotline; Memorial Drive United Methodist Church Hummingbird Ministry was recognized as our 2012 Volunteer Group of the year for their support at our shelter and special events. Also, the Houston Chronicle received the 2012 Community Cornerstone Media Award for helping us generate awareness about domestic and sexual violence. Gail Baxter and Beatrice King received special 35th Anniversary Volunteer Achievement awards for their many years of service to our agency. In addition, a survivor shared a moving story of how her life began to change when she bravely called our hotline for the first time. Thank you to our staff for organizing such a wonderful event and to all of our wonderful volunteers who make such a powerful impact within our agency! See all the photos! |
Leadership Campaign Reception
The Houston Area Women's Center 2012 Leadership Campaign was a huge success! Nearly 200 of Houston's top corporate and community leaders made generous financial gifts while publicly calling for an end to domestic violence. The campaign raised more than $260,000 and culminated in a two-page signature ad in the Houston Chronicle on October 18.
Funds raised through the campaign directly supported the Women's Center Emergency Shelter, a 120-bed haven that offers women and children fleeing violent homes a safe place to sleep, counseling, career development, early childhood education, an onsite HISD school, parenting classes, nutritious meals and access to a wide-range of resources to help them rebuild their lives. View the list of participants who signed our campaign! |
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