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Ride to Reach Is for Everyone! |
In addition to two challenging bicycle routes, Ride to Reach will feature lots of family entertainment, activities, and performances! We've promised to keep you updated, so here's your first look at some of the exciting things we have planned throughout the morning and afternoon of Saturday, April 20.
Schedule:
- 6am-7:30am: Registration (riders check-in to receive t-shirt and meal ticket)
- 7:30am-8:00am: Remarks from Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson & more
- 8am: The Rides Begin! (60-Mile and 17-Mile)
- 9:00am-2pm: Vendors and Family Fun with DJ Stretch
- 10:00am-10:30am: Avalon Dance performs
- 10:30am-11:00am: UCF's ASA Dance Crew entertains the crowd
- 12:30pm-1:30pm: Legacy, a classic rock band, performs the hits
Activities:
Activities for families and attendees throughout the day include crash test dummies, a law enforcement patrol car viewing, Eddie the Eagle, a game station with hula hoops and more, The Clothesline Project, face painting, a chalk mural, a fire engine experience, arts & crafts, a henna tattoo artist, and tons of other fun!
Thanks to our sponsors and in-kind donors who are helping to shape Ride to Reach!
Sponsors:
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Volunteers and In-Kind Items Needed for Ride to Reach |
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Ride to Reach is April 20! To help make it as successful as possible, we rely on our sponsors, community awareness builders, and in-kind donors. Please consider helping to provide needed items or cover the cost of securing event logistical requirements. Items that are still outstanding include:
- Ice Chests or Tubs* (10 to 15)
- Event Canopies and Tents* (5)
- Folding Tables* (15)
- Folding Chairs* (60)
- Plastic Utensils (200)
- Paper Napkins (800)
- Paper Towels (20 Rolls)
- Hot & Cold Use Beverage Cups (200)
- 40 Gallon Trash Bags (25)
- Stirrers, Sugar, Creamer (Enough for 100 to 200 cups of coffee)
- Bananas (200)
- Apples (100)
- Nutritional/Energy Bars (200)
- Ice (20 bags)
- Sports Drinks (100 Bottles)
*To use for the day
In addition, if you would like to volunteer at the event, we are seeking generous parties to fill the following roles:
6:30-8:30AM:
4 volunteers for our pre-registration table to check-in participants who've already registered for the ride
6:30-8:30AM:
4 volunteers for our registration table to have participants complete paperwork and sign waiver
6:30-9AM:
8 volunteers to assist with general event set-up (tent construction, etc.)
6:30AM-2:30PM:
2 volunteers to drive the bike route and set-up directional signs and rest station stops
7AM-2PM:
6 volunteers to work our water tables and rest stations along the course route
7:30AM-2PM:
2-4 volunteers to drive the pace car that follows behind the riders
8:30-10:30AM:
5 volunteers to help vendors check-in to the event and set-up their booths
11:30AM-2:30PM:
6 volunteers to help serve lunch to the cyclists and clean up afterwards
And don't forget that registration is open for both the 60-mile and the 17-mile bicycle rides! |
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March 18-23 is National Youth Violence Prevention Week |
The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) is proud to be a founding partner of the National Youth Violence Prevention Campaign. The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness and to educate students, tea  chers, school administrators, counselors, school resource officers, school staff, parents, and the public on effective ways to prevent or reduce youth Violence. This week long national education initiative will involve activities that demonstrate the positive role young people can have in making their school and community safer. SAVE serves as the crossroads to the campaign and provides countless resources to prepare for the event, including the official campaign Action Kit that serves as a step-by-step planning guide, suggestions for how each sector of the community can support the campaign, activity ideas, links to over 40 national organizations sponsoring the event, articles and interviews on violence prevention, and much, much more!
Visit the CDC's Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE) page for training, resource videos, and community case studies on youth violence prevention.
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Preparing for April's UnderAWARE Underwear Drive |
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For Sexual Assault Awareness Month each April, the Victim Service Center solicits contributions from the community on behalf of the victims of sexual assault we serve.
Beginning April 1, we will initiate our month-long campaign to collect new items of clothing for clients who have theirs collected for evidence during the forensic investigation part of the rape exam.
If you are interested in hosting a clothing drive at your business, organization, or community group, give us a call at (407) 254-9415. Individual donations can be dropped off at our office at 2111 E Michigan Street, Suite 210, Orlando, FL 32806.
This year, we are most in need of all sizes of new sports bras, stretchy pants or shorts, and women's and men's underwear. |
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Denim Day Fast Approaching |
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Wear jeans with a purpose.
There is no excuse and never an invitation to rape.
There is No Excuse Not to Talk to Your Teen
Teens between the ages of 15 and 19 are at the greatest risk to experience sexual assault. Male and female teens need trusted adults with whom they can talk about sexual violence, coercion and exploitation. Having open and honest discussions with your teen about healthy and respectful relationships to prevent teen dating and sexual violence, builds vital and life - saving lines of communication. Everyone has the right to be safe from sexual and relationship violence, regardless of age.
There is No Excuse Not to Support Survivors
Survivors of sexual violence are often afraid to disclose because of fear of re-victimization. Survivors often experience feelings of shame, guilt, isolation, powerlessness, embarrassment and inadequacy. If a survivor chooses to tell you about their assault, then s/he is investing a lot of trust in you. Your responses are important. A rape survivor needs to be supported through active listening, nonjudgmental responses, and allowed the time and space to make his/her own decisions about what to do next.
There is No Excuse Not to Support Male Survivors
Researchers estimate that 1 in 6 men have had unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood - that's nearly 19 million of our brothers, fathers, sons, partners, and friends. Talking about it begins healing. But these boys grow up with socialized expectations about manhood that equates getting help or even acknowledging their victimization with shame. As adults, they're significantly higher risk for a range of negative health and behavioral consequences - consequences that impact them, their families, communities and society as a whole.
There is No Excuse to Joke About Rape
As a society we cannot tolerate joking about sexual assault. Dismissing it as "just a joke" adds insult to injury. "Jokes" about rape trivialize the seriousness of sexual violence and belittle survivors' experiences. Accepting and laughing at jokes about rape sends a clear message to survivors that their experiences aren't taken seriously.
There is No Excuse to Ignore Rape
The cultural climate within many institutions of power reflects a deep failure of leadership at all levels to acknowledge and adequately respond to the crimes of sexual abuse and rape. Religious institutions, corporations, schools, law enforcement and the US Military have all been the focus of media and popular inquiry in their cover up of reported rapes and abuse and their negligence to respond to the needs of men, women, and children who have experienced sexual abuse. We are all members of families, groups and organizations and we are all responsible for holding these institutions and each other accountable. We must seek the courage to step up as individuals and be leaders who advocate for institutional and societal change and support survivors.
Content comes from peaceoverviolence.org website.
Want to help? Talk to your company, agency, or community group about supporting the Victim Service Center of Central Florida.
The VSC mission is to provide comprehensive services and resources to victims of sexual assault, violent crime, and tragic circumstances through crisis response, advocacy, therapy, and community awareness.
Have individuals donate $5 so that they can wear jeans on April 24, 2013 and bring awareness to sexual assault and the VSC. Wear jeans with a purpose!
Contact the Victim Service Center to receive teal ribbons for those to wear that donate or are unable to wear jeans but still want to bring awareness.
$5 - buys a snack for a victim following their sexual assault exam
$5 - goes toward the purchase of replacement clothing following a sexual assault exam
$5 - goes toward the purchase of self care items for a victim (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.) |
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New Public Service Announcements Recorded for the Victim Service Center! |
 We want to thank Christina Carmona and Fernando Torres at Bad Kitty Films for recording our new PSA's! We hope to have these on the radio for you and the community to hear soon. Thank you for all of your hard work on this project, Christina! You can listen to each of our public service announcements by following this link to our SoundCloud profile. Happy listening! |
 | | Prevention Specialist Rhonda Wilson speaks before an audience of future nurses at Seminole State College. |
The Victim Service Center has been hitting the road with Rhonda Wilson, our prevention specialist, behind the wheel! Rhonda has made crime prevention presentations at Full Sail, Covenant House, Seminole State College, Nemours, The Mustard Seed, Valencia College, and more all in the last month. We're tracking her journey on Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to check back for photos and updates! |
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Monthly Informational Briefings
Last Wednesday of Every Month
Next Briefing
Wednesday - March 27, 2013
Noon - 1PM at the Victim Service Center
Each month the Victim Service Center will be offering Informational Briefings to educate the community on our services, cultivate interest in our agency, and offer individual involvement with our mission through volunteerism, fundraising, or assisting us in spreading the word that we are here to help those impacted by crimes and sexual assaults.
By attending our Informational Briefing, you will learn about our history, our mission, services, our priorities, and our goals.
Where & When
2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210
Orlando, Florida 32806
March 27, 2013
Noon - 1PM
Space is limited; please let us know if you will be attending.
RSVP - Office: (407) 254-9415 or e-mail devon.hutchins@ocfl.net. |
Victim Service Center of Central Florida
Contact Information
Hours: Monday - Friday (8AM-5PM)
Office: (407) 254-9415
2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210
Orlando, Florida 32806
24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline: (407) 497-6701
Toll Free: 1(866) 757-2046
www.VictimServiceCenter.com
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Let us know how
we can help you
with a presentation:
Request a presentation about our services, crime or crime prevention or talk to us about developing a topic to present to your group - please call us to discuss.
(407) 254-9415
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Sign-Up for Our Newsletter
Click the above button and follow the prompts to join or update your mailing list information to Victim Service Center.
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Mark Your Calendar
Sexual Assault Survivors
Every Monday
5:30PM - 7:00PM
The group meets every Monday at the Victim Service Center, located at 2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32806.
If interested in attending please contact us at: (407) 254-9415.
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WHAT? Meeting
If you're a victim of crime, come learn about our services and what happens after your victimization.
Meetings occur every Tuesday at the Victim Service Center, located at 2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32806.
If interested in attending please contact us at: (407) 254-9415.
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iThrive: Support Group for Young Adult Sexual Assault Survivors
Every Thursday
5:30PM - 6:30PM
The group meets every Thursday at the Victim Service Center, located at 2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32806.
If interested in attending please contact us at: (407) 254-9415.
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Monthly Informational Briefing
Last Wednesday of Each Month
Noon - 1PM
Come learn more about your Victim Service Center...
Location: Conference Room at the Victim Service Center
Wednesday, March 27
To RSVP, please call us at
(407) 254-9415 or e-mail devon.hutchins@ocfl.net.
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Osceola County Ribbon Cutting
Thursday, April 4, 2013
We'll be celebrating the opening of our Care Center in Osceola County with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Stay tuned for more details.
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Ride to Reach
Saturday, April 20, 2013
7:30AM - 2PM
Everyone is invited to come out and join in on one of the various bicycle rides, stop by to check out the business and nonprofit vendors, listen to music, and join in other family fun. Registration will open soon on our website.
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Denim Day
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Make a social statement with your fashion statement and wear jeans for a purpose. Each year, the Victim Service Center participates in Denim Day, an awareness and fundraising opportunity that garners support for victims of sexual assault.
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Recycle Your
Cell Phone
Did you know that the Victim Service Center collects used cell phones and chargers for recycling?
We're a proud member of the Shelter Alliance, a socially responsible cell phone recycling program that donates money to nonprofits in exchange for mobile phones and their chargers that are no longer in use.
Bring your phone and charger to our office, and we'll take care of the rest!
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Wish List Items
Flat screen monitors
New sports bras, stretchy pants
Clothesline Project t-shirts
Stamps, envelopes
Copy paper, pens, notepads
Individually wrapped snacks
Call the Victim Service Center at (407) 254-9415 if you have questions about how to donate these items or visit our website to learn more. Thank you for your consideration in helping to meet this need. |
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Volunteer Opportunities
Speaker for our Speakers Bureau
Newsletter Manager
Event Planning and Assistance
Social Media/Information
Website Development
Host an Event/Fundraiser
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Creating a Solid Future
Remember the Victim Service Center when creating your legacy, or as part of your ongoing planned giving efforts.
Feel free to contact your attorney or financial planner to discuss how the Victim Service Center can be incorporated into your will, trust(s), or other facets of your financial and estate plan.
Contact Jody Swain, Development Director, at jody.swain@ocfl.net or (407) 254-9415 to discuss how you might want to donate to the Victim Service Center. |
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Central Florida
Community Foundation
(DonorEdge Portrait)
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Learn more about the Victim Service Center - visit our DonorEdge portrait, established by the Community Foundation of Central Florida - helping donors validate the organizations they support.
Click here to see our Victim Service Center portrait.
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Other Ways to
Support the
Victim Service Center
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 Use Yahoo! powered GoodSearch so that every time you search the web, money is donated to the Victim Service Center.
Get started by clicking the "Become a Supporter" button on our profile page!
The Victim Service Center is now registered with CharityBlooms.org. 8% of your purchases go towards helping VSC provide our valuable services!
CharityBlooms.org partners with 1800Flowers.com, 1800Baskets.com, FruitBouquets.com, Cheryl's cookies, Fannie May Fine Chocolates, and The Popcorn Factory.
Just remember to input our Donation Code in the promo field when you check out: CHA3195N. Or check out our new landing page here!
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"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."
- Lou Holtz |
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