Women’s center grateful for support
Guest Column
Anna Diaz-White

With the new millennium beginning, the Women’s Center of Monmouth County Inc. expresses its gratitude to the donors, community advocates and individuals who have made contributions that helped transform the lives of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

We are very fortunate our counselors hear the words "thank you" almost every day from women who have survived horrific personal violence and trauma. During this past holiday season, so many greater Monmouth County community members provided financial, emotional and in-kind support to our program operations and services. Without your help, we couldn’t help these families heal the wounds of domestic violence.

The women’s center staff released a statement from a former client that captures how profoundly the women’s center helped her cope. Her words are stirring:

"You have seen me through the worst of my fears and the best of my changes. Thank you. Thank you for seeing past that fear and understanding that somewhere inside was a worthwhile person that just needed some guidance and a chance to ‘be’ someone again. ... In my heart, I thank God every day that I found this program and all of you."

One hundred and sixty-seven volunteers and board members make profound volunteer contributions by providing more than 26,512 hours of time that enables the women’s center to fund critical programs. More than 12,000 Monmouth County residents received services in spite of pending budget cuts and increased competition for funding because of the contributions of our donors.

Women’s center services are crisis intervention-based, and represent lifelines to many families fleeing domestic violence. In fiscal year 2000, 5,180 people called our toll-free domestic violence and sexual assault hot lines.

The 75 women and 88 children who stayed in emergency shelter, the 11 women and 22 children who lived in transitional housing would have had no place to live without the center’s emergency services. Donors’ contributions account for 25 percent of the center’s overall budget. Donors’ support enabled 535 women to receive outreach counseling; 101 children and their 66 parents to receive Amanda’s Easel art therapy; and the 1,915 individuals to be assisted through the family and municipal courts. The women’s center school-based violence prevention program reached 3,700 students who received information detecting the early signs of domestic violence and sexual assault on dating violence and sexual assault. Additionally, the center’s rape care program helped 298 rape survivors by accompanying them to the police or hospitals.

Domestic violence offenders receive counseling through the Alternatives to Abuse program, which runs for 18 consecutive weeks. One former client expressed his gratitude for this court-mandated counseling program.: "I’ve recently completed the required 18 weeks, and finished my probation and the court-required programs. But more importantly, I’ve tremendously improved my relationships with my wife and everyone else in my life. ... The program ... has changed a lot of my attitudes and responses to everyday life situations. I pray this program will continue to be available. ... Thank you."

The center also acknowledges a special network of partners who opened financial and network doors for the center from July 1, 1999-June 30, 2000. We receive generous support from many corporations in our community. Our legislative advocates who secured funding are: Sen. John O. Bennett, Sen. Donald T. DiFrancesco and Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr. The freeholders and family foundations have continued their support of our school-based Abuse Prevention Program. From the Girl Scouts to the Junior League, many community, religious and civic organizations support the women’s center with holiday gifts for children.

The toll-free numbers for the center’s two 24-hour hot lines are: 1-888-843-9262, domestic violence, and 1-888-264-7273, sexual assault.

For more information on making a financial donation to the women’s center, contact Lori Sadwith, director of development, at (732) 264-9114 or Karen Apruzzi, special events coordinator, at (732) 264-9125.

Anna Diaz-White is executive director of the Women’s Center of Monmouth County, Hazlet