Take the Pledge to End Domestic Violence

Women In Distress' 10th Annual 5K SAFEWALK-RUN

noreply@blogger.com (erica) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:44:00 +0000

Be A Team Leader for our 10th Annual SAFEWALK-RUN at Markham Park in Sunrise, FL on Sunday, October 26th, 2008! This event is for all:

Competitive runners (the course is a 5K USATF Certified Course, CHIP Timed)
Non-competitive runners, walkers, and families
Schools, companies, and other organizations

Help support the shelter, intervention, and educational services provided by Women In Distress. Your fundraising efforts will make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims. For more information, visit www.womenindistress.org or contact Lauren Frank at lfrank@womenindistress.org or 954.760.9800 ext. 1128.

$80,000 raised for Women In Distress

noreply@blogger.com (erica) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:11:00 +0000

Over 300 guests recognized this year’s honorees at The Second Annual Starfish Luncheon with Women In Distress (WID) on May 14th . Under the leadership of event co-chairs, Gale Butler (AutoNation, a Maroone Company) and Melinda Lee (BankAtlantic Foundation), and auction chairs, Hal and Lois Herman, the event raised more than $80,000. The funds raised will support emergency shelter and support services for victims of domestic violence and their children in Broward County.
WID honored those making a difference in Broward County, one person at a time, one life at a time. The Starfish Honorees included:
• Corporate Citizen: AutoNation – AutoNation played an important role in the success of the Annual Starfish Lunch both last year and this year through sponsorship, in-kind support and wonderful leadership of Gale Butler as Co-Chair. Additionally, AutoNation supports WID with dedicated board service and employee volunteerism, cell phone and donation drives, a team at the annual SAFE WALK, and in-kind donations of professional services and other resources.

• Community Leader: John Primeau - John has been a valuable member of WID’s Trustees for two years. From the very start of his involvement, John maintained an active role in helping the Agency grow. He has acted as a leader, committee member, organizer, helper or anything else required of him. He has been an integral member of WID’s capital expansion committee, dedicated to evaluating our resources and options to grow WID’s capacity to serve more victims. He never seeks recognition for his efforts. I think it is all the more important than that we acknowledge his impact on our community.

• Community Volunteers: Ira and Sara Jane Drescher - Ira and Sara Jane lost their daughter, Donnah, to domestic violence in 1995 and to keep her memory alive, they established Donnah’s Fund at Women In Distress, empowering domestic violence victims to live safely and independently. With the outpouring support of The Dreschers, their friends and their family, Donnah’s Fund provides assistance in establishing safe households for women and their children, with the support of housing deposit, furnishings and other related items. To date, Donnah’s Fund has raised more than $30,000 and has assisted more than 50 families.

Special recognition was also given to presenting sponsors JM Family Enterprises and Sun-Sentinel. Other corporate supporters included BankAtlantic, AutoNation, Great Florida Bank, Publix, WaMu, Memorial Healthcare, Roof System Services, Comcast, Vista Healthplans, Floridian Community Bank, Christine Marie Communication, and Toshiba.
Long time Women In Distress supporter Randy Rogers served as the event’s Emcee. In addition to an impressive silent and live auction, silver starfish necklaces, provided by Miss Katie’s Charm School, were sold as mementoes. Guests also received starfish themed note cards which included the inspiring starfish story on the back, along with the WID logo, so that everyone could spread the message. Gale Butler recognized the talented student musicians from the Dillard Center for the Arts who performed at the luncheon, and she then elaborated on WID’s new Social Change Department and the outreach to which they are committed in Broward’s schools, and throughout the community. She highlighted an important initiative of Women In Distress – to educate, change perceptions and advocate for non-violent standards of behavior, so that domestic abuse and dating abuse is unacceptable by anyone, anywhere, at any time in any way.

At the conclusion of the day, Starfish Honoree, Sara Jane Drescher, commented that, “The Starfish Luncheon was beyond anything I could ever have dreamed of. I know that through Donnah’s Fund we are not only saving lives we are saving generations. Donnah would be so proud of what we are doing”. It was an inspirational day for all.

2008 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

noreply@blogger.com (erica) — Sun, 25 May 2008 01:29:00 +0000

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, 2008. This is an excellent opportunity to share information about abuse, neglect, and exploitation in later life. It serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organizations and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Please help raise the awareness of elder abuse by wearing something purple on June 15th to symbolize your commitment to this great cause!

Elder Abuse Is a Serious Problem
Every person-no matter how young or how old-deserves to be safe from harm by those who live with them, care for them, or come in day-to-day contact with them.
Older people today are more visible, more active, and more independent than ever before. They are living longer and in better health. But as the population of older Americans grows, so does the hidden problem of elder abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
• Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect. Those statistics may not tell the whole story.
• For every case of elder abuse and neglect that is reported to authorities, experts estimate that there may be as many as five cases that have not been reported.
• The eldest of our seniors, 80 years and older, are abused and neglected at 2-3 times the proportion of all other senior citizens.
• 90% of elder abuse and neglect incidents are by known perpetrators, usually family members, 2/3rds are adult children or spouses. 42% of murder victims over 60 were killed by their own offspring. Spouses were the perpetrators in 24% of family murders of persons over 60

Take a Stand

noreply@blogger.com (erica) — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:02:00 +0000

Domestic violence homicides in Broward County are on the rise. Since December 2007 there have been ten domestic violence homicides. According to Broward Sheriff’s Office, Broward County has seen a 300% increase in domestic related homicides against women since last year. This number is frightening. Our community is suffering from these tragedies. Innocent lives were taken; batterers need to be held accountable for their actions. As a community we cannot stand for this behavior any longer.

Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of coercive behaviors in a relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Domestic violence can take many forms such as physical, emotional, verbal, and/or economic. Domestic violence knows no boundaries; it can happen to anyone, regardless of race, color, gender, age, or socioeconomic background.

It is up to each of you to stand up against domestic violence. As a community we can combat domestic violence in Broward County.

The Starfish Story...

noreply@blogger.com (Social Change Committee) — Wed, 14 May 2008 15:46:00 +0000

Over 300 people are anticipated to join Women In Distress of Broward County to raise funds for victims of domestic violence and recognize special honorees at the Second Annual Starfish Luncheon.

The origin of the starfish theme came from a popular legend retold through many different versions, one of which is as follows:

A young girl and her grandmother were walking down the beach. It was a beautiful afternoon and the tide had pulled back leaving many starfish stranded on the sand. The girl began picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. Her grandmother said, “Why do you run about? There are hundreds of starfish and you can’t possibly save them all.” Her granddaughter stopped, looked carefully at the starfish in her hand and, as she threw it back into the water, said, “Maybe not, Grandma, but I can save this one!”

Making a difference one person at a time.

Mary Riedel joins WID as CEO

noreply@blogger.com (Social Change Committee) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:50:00 +0000

Prominent community figure Mary A. Riedel, APR, ABC has been named Chief Executive Officer of Women In Distress of Broward County. Currently the director of major gifts at Nova Southeastern University, Riedel officially assumes her new position March 31, 2008.

“This is a major step for our organization and we are thrilled that Mary has accepted an opportunity to lead our efforts to end abuse in South Florida,” said Carol Molnar, Chairman of the board of directors of Women In Distress of Broward County. “Mary is a very well-respected member of the community and someone who has contributed significantly to so many wonderful causes and organizations throughout the years, including serving as a past board member and chair of Women In Distress.”

Prior to cultivation and stewardship of major gifts for NSU, Riedel had worked in media marketing and community relations for nearly 37 years, including more than 18 years as community affairs manager at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and publisher of the newspaper’s weekly Society section. Before moving to South Florida in 1987, she spent more than 17 years in marketing and communication management for The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel.

Riedel has been active in the community, serving in leadership roles for a number of nonprofit organizations, in addition to Women In Distress. Her board service also has encompassed such organizations as United Way of Broward County, Community Foundation of Broward, Donors Forum of South Florida, Sun-Sentinel Diversity Venture Fund and Minority Development & Empowerment (MDE, Inc.), among others.

Riedel currently serves on the boards of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward – Davie Units, Funding Arts Broward, Inc. and the Community Advisory Board of Valley Bank. She also is a mentor with the Women of Tomorrow organization and is a member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches. Professionally, Riedel is accredited by both the International Association of Business Communications (ABC) and Public Relations Society of America (APR), and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

Riedel received her journalism degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a graduate of Leadership Broward, Leadership Palm Beach County and Leadership Boca Raton. She and her husband, Bill, reside in Fort Lauderdale and have two grown daughters.