Thank you to our Wonderful Family of Volunteers!
Under the theme, “We are Family,” the Shelter for Abused Women & Children honored its 250 dedicated volunteers, April 8, with a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch at the Naples Grande. In 2014-15, Shelter volunteers logged an amazing 22,000 hours of service. If monetized, the total would exceed $495,000, based on figures from Nonprofit Quarterly.
“The Shelter is an organization founded on the support of community members who dedicate themselves to our mission,” said Jamie Garry, volunteer coordinator for The Shelter. “Today we honor and thank each and every one of you for your time, unbelievable effort, and gracious love given to The Shelter. Each volunteer contributes in their own way and, as a team you have all created a critically important network of support and encouragement for the survivors we serve.”
The morning’s festivities included colorful floral table decorations created by women and children in the agency’s emergency shelter.
The lion’s share of the volunteer hours were given at The Shelter’s Options Thrift Store, but countless hours were also spent answering The Shelter’s crisis hotline, making copies, attending events, cleaning, organizing the food pantry or serving on various Shelter boards and committees.
This year’s Outstanding Volunteer of the Year was Carol Graham, who assists with The Shelter’s Peacemakers program. With Graham’s help, this children’s program was expanded to include therapeutic services that cover a variety of topics such as conflict resolution, what it means to be grateful and what emotions look and feel like.
“The many successes of the Peacemakers program are totally due to the fact that professionals like Carol were willing to assist,” said Shelter Youth Advocate Sandra Hack. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart and from the heart of every one of the children.”
Other outstanding Shelter volunteers included:
- Holiday Volunteers Maxine Robbins and June Ballew
- Administrative Volunteer Lois Castronova
- New Volunteer Declan McGarvey
- Guild Volunteers Ann Weatherwax, Cara Martin, Charlotte Tarr, Peg Melillo.
- Mending Broken Hearts With Hope Luncheon Volunteer Bette Aymar
- Options Volunteers Al Salata, Barbara Johnson, Eileen Johnson, Erika Aron and Irmgard Wannamaker
- Outreach Volunteer Shannon Holland
- Emergency Shelter Volunteer Barbara Ann Budd
Also honored was Faylee Goldstone, who was recognized for 1,296 hours of service in 2014-15. It was the second year in a row that Goldstone’s hours exceeded 1,000.
Volunteers with 10 or more years of service included Fred Adams, Phyllis Bond, Michelle Bright, Janice Carter, Carol Chapman, Maureen DiMarco, Eleanor Egerton, Sandra Estridge, Mary Greer, Lyn Hilliard, Hildegard Hudson, Shirley Hoerle, Patty Innamorati, Eileen Johnson, Barbara Johnson, Chris Kardon, Betty Keller, Patti Kipp, Barbara Lauber, Dotti Lawton, Milly Marshall, Ruth Mast, Jimany Sue McLaughlin, Diane Messana, Jan Miller, Lorraine Newcomb, Katy Olson, RaeAnn Patton, Annabella Richardi, Janice Rogers, Lorraine Rocklin, Jerry Shelpman, Sue Silber, Lois Spitzer and Betty Tinsler.
Shelter Executive Director Linda Oberhaus also shared a few words with those in attendance, stating “Whether volunteering at Options, in our emergency shelter, in administration, or on one of our boards, we appreciate the difference that you are making in the lives of some of the most vulnerable families in our community.”
Below: View the Volunteer Recognition Video that was presented at the Brunch
Shelter advocate is keynote speaker at Women Helping Women
The Shelter’s Women of Means Advocate Lise Descoteaux, was the keynote speaker for the annual Women Helping Women fundraising luncheon, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 at the Country Club of North Carolina. The luncheon was hosted by Friend to Friend, a nonprofit agency that offers help to all persons affected by interpersonal violence.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”32″ gal_title=”Women Helping Women”]
Lise Descoteaux on Fox 4 Morning Blend
Our Women of Means Advocate Lise Descoteaux was recently featured on Fox 4’s Morning Blend. For more information on the Women of Means program, click here.
The Shelter takes part in Celebrate Immokalee
The Shelter’s Immokalee Outreach Office staff and Youth Advisory Committee members took part in Celebrate Immokalee, March 28, 2015. Read full story
WINK News – Survivor speaks out at Shelter from the Storm
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – A domestic violence victim shared her amazing story of survival to help other women on Thursday.
“I knew I was going to die.”
Susan Still was in an abusive relationship with her husband for 24 years, “when he threatened my son that was just a line for me.”
One day, 11 years ago, her husband made their oldest son of three videotape nearly an hour of both physical and mental abuse. “My ex-husband is in prison now, he received a sentence of 36 years.”
More than 400 people listened to Still’s story during the Shelter from the Storm Luncheon.
“When we all work together with this large of a group and all of its residents we can absolutely stop domestics violence.” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk tells WINK News putting an end to the domestic violence epidemic is no easy task.
Every day someone is arrested for the crime in Collier County, “it says that we in law enforcement are taking the right and proper action.”
Sheriff Rambosk said that’s because victims are becoming more comfortable with reporting the abuse. “Thats what’s important to us and enable us to make the arrests that we need to make.”
He also said victims seeking help through The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is making a difference.
“It can totally make a difference in whether a family thrives, or a person thrives, or whether they don’t,” said Still.
Even though the sheriff said arrests are made daily, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Domestic Violence reports in Collier County are at their lowest in 20 years.
Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon raises over $740,000
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”27″ gal_title=”MBH Luncheon”]
Now in its 15th year, the Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon netted over $740,000, March 12, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. The event, which drew an attendance of over 700 women and men, included a silent auction and two-day designer boutique. Funds raised will further The Shelter’s mission to prevent, protect and prevail over domestic violence through advocacy, empowerment and social change.
Emcee for this year’s luncheon was NBC-2 news anchor Kellie Burns. The keynote speaker was Lynn Rosenthal, Director of External Affairs for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, Washington, DC office. Prior to this position Rosenthal served as White House Advisor on Violence Against Women.
“We were thrilled with the success of this year’s luncheon,” said Chair Gwyn Sanford. “This community recognizes and values the importance of the life-saving programs and services provided by The Shelter and we are grateful for that support.”
Pam’s Porch dedicated at Rabb Cottage
Shelter staff and fellow trustees joined Bob Cahners to celebrate the dedication of Pam’s Porch in memory of his late wife, March 9, 2015, at Rabb Cottage, one of The Shelter’s seven transitional cottages.
Bob shared with the group how he and his wife Pam stood on the shady porch on the day that Rabb Cottage was dedicated. He recalled how she loved the little cottage and was a strong supporter of The Shelter’s transitional housing program. The newly-named porch is a fitting tribute to Pam.
For more information on The Shelter’s transitional housing program, click here.
Healthy Relationships at Oakridge Middle School
Thank you to Oakridge Middle School for allowing our advocate Sandra Hack to present our Healthy Relationships program to their students. It is through outreach and education that The Shelter hopes to prevent abuse before it begins.
At least one out of every four teens is involved in a dating violence relationship by the time they leave high school. The objective of the Teen Healthy Relationships program is to facilitate dating violence primary prevention presentations for middle and high school students, ultimately changing the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of adolescent boys and girls and reducing the occurrence of violence against women.
Since 2009, The Shelter’s Teen Healthy Relationship program has provided students the opportunity to learn facts about the different types of abuse, the dynamics of dating violence, characteristics of unhealthy and healthy relationships, and how to set boundaries in a relationship. They also learn about ways to help friends involved in abusive relationship and how to create a safety plan.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade 2015
The Shelter turned out to celebrate the accomplishments of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream of freedom for all. The Shelter’s dream is a community free from domestic violence so that every home is a safe haven for the family it shelters. Join us!
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”28″ gal_title=”MLK Parade 2015″]
Shop for the Shelter
What a great time we had during Shop for The Shelter, Dec. 7, hosted by Options Thrift Shoppe and Ronto Realty at Naples Square. Options ‘elves’ transformed the Naples Square Sales Gallery into a holiday boutique of brand new high-end designer wear donated by local department stores. Early estimates of this holiday shopping social topped $7,000, all of which will benefit The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”29″ gal_title=”Shop for the Shelter”]
Thank you to the Naples Daily News for covering this wonderful event
By Kalhan Rosenblatt
NAPLES, Fla. – Rickie Klein knew there was one thing she wanted for the holidays this year: a party.
But not just any party — a party with a purpose. Klein, who is a guild member of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children and an Options Thrift Shoppe ambassador committee chair, teamed up with Naples Square Sales Gallery for the first ever “Light Up Your Holidays” benefit on Sunday.
“It was kind of spontaneous,” Klein said. “I saw the space and said it would make a fabulous venue for a party and (The Shelter for Abused Women & Children) is a fabulous organization.”
For $20, attendees could shop for new, high-end clothing and jewelry, snack on finger food, sip Champagne and socialize at the Naples Square Sales Gallery, all while helping The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and Options Thrift Shoppe, which is owned by the shelter.
“It was so close to the shelter, it just made perfect sense,” said Wanda Cross, director of sales for Naples Square.
All 150 tickets had sold out by Sunday afternoon, and the floor was packed with eager shoppers hoping to make a difference.
Brand new necklaces, hats, shoes and dresses from designers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Jimmy Choo lined the halls of Naples Square.
“(The best part) is knowing we’re raising money for the shelter,” shelter Executive Director Linda Oberhaus said. “Our goal is to one day put ourselves out of business and end domestic violence.”
Many attendees, as well as volunteers, knew someone the shelter had helped.
“My husband works as a physician and he would see cases (of domestic violence),” said shelter volunteer and shopper Joanne Beightol. “We know people who have struggled with domestic abuse.”
Beightol, who brought her 16-year-old daughter Caera along, said she came out to the “Light Up Your Holidays” benefit to “put her money where her mouth is.”
“I like the fact that you’re buying clothes for your self but you’re helping women and children at the same time,” Caera said.
By 3 p.m. — the halfway mark of the two-hour affair — $5,000 had been raised, exceeding the original $4,000 goal. Klein said 100 percent of the money received from ticket sales would go directly to the shelter.
“We’re already planning on doing this again next year,” said Contract Data Administrator for Naples Square, Amy Schiffer. “We want to do tie-ins for other nonprofits. We’re excited about giving back.”
Carole Beauregard of Naples perused the clothing racks at “Light Up Your Holidays.” As a member of the guild, she said she convinced her girlfriends to come to the event. She also persuaded friend Ulrich Elben to donate his book, “Naples the Beautiful,” which was sold for $10 a piece.
“Every nickel counts for the shelter,” Beauregard said.
Klein said she drove Kaydee Tuff, communications manager for the shelter, “bonkers” putting on “Light Up Your Holidays,” but Tuff was grateful for her persistence.
“(Klein) definitely deserves all the credit,” Tuff said. “If it wasn’t for her, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
For Klein, knowing she’s able to be festive while giving back made the whole process worthwhile.
“You can feel the joy and happiness in the room,” Klein said. “You can feel the energy of women helping women.”
Monarch Society Luncheon 2014
The Monarch Society held its annual appreciation luncheon in support of The Shelter for Abused Women & Children on Monday, Nov. 17, at Beach House at the Ritz Carlton, Naples. This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Amanda Evans, Ed. D. MSW Assistant Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, who addressed the myths and realities of human trafficking.
See photo spread in Florida Weekly
Haitian Immigration Fair & Forum
As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, The Shelter sponsored an Haitian Immigration Fair/Forum, Oct. 26, at Church of Nazarene on Bayshore Drive in Naples. The forum drew more than 125 attendees including three immigration officers who provided information about Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA) and other topics.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”17″ gal_title=”Haitian Immigration Event”]
Immokalee Children’s Fair & Peace March
More than 300 people turned out for the 15th Annual Immokalee Children’s Fair and Peace March, Oct. 27, sponsored by The Shelter for Abused Women & Children. Co-sponsors for the event included Lozano’s Restaurant, Fiesta Tents, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Collier County Parks and Recreation. Spread across the field at the Immokalee Sports Complex, the fair included games and booths featuring more than 20 community partners. The events were The Shelter’s final outreach during October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Sergio Lopez, a Gentle’men Against Domestic Violence advocate, led over 100 march participants escorted by Collier County Sheriff’s Office as the procession made its way through town from the Sports Complex to Main Street and back. This was the first year that the march was led by a male advocate.
“Once again, we had a great turnout for the fair as well as the march,” said Josie Means, Immokalee Outreach Manager. “This kind of participation really validates Immokalee’s support for The Shelter’s mission to prevent, protect and prevail over domestic violence so that every home can be a safe haven for the family it shelters.”
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”30″ gal_title=”Peace March 2014″]
,
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”31″ gal_title=”Peace March 2″]
