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Thank you for supporting #DVAM2015!
And letting survivors know that they are not alone
Every October, the Houston Area Women's Center goes into high gear to spread the word about Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While we work hard to support survivors throughout the year, #DVAM is the time when we ask the community to join us in a big way. And did you ever!
We are so grateful to everyone who wore purple, made a donation, supported our Leadership Campaign, and took the time to learn about an issue that effects so many women, children, and men in our community.
We've compiled our best #DVAM2015 photos and put them in an album on our Facebook page. We hope you'll take a moment to check them out, and please feel free to "Like" us while you're there!
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month isn't over yet. To make a donation and support adults, children and families healing from domestic violence, click here.
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Report reveals number of women killed by their intimate partners in Texas in 2014
Harris County tops tragic list
It's the annual press conference that's as important as it is heart-breaking.
On Friday, October 16, at Houston Police Department headquarters in downtown Houston, the Texas Council on Family Violence released its report on the number of women killed by their intimate partners across the state in 2014. Representatives from a number of local agencies and service providers attended the conference, including President and CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center, Rebecca White. Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland and Houston District Attorney Devon Anderson also participated.
Each year, the TCFV conducts an extensive “Honoring Texas Victims” study to track fatalities, county by county and story by story. In 2013, Dallas County had the most number of fatalities at 20, while Harris County had 19. The 2014 report revealed that Harris County’s number rose to 23 women, while Dallas County’s dropped to 10. The total number of women murdered in Texas in 2014 was 132, compared to 119 in 2013. In both years, most murders happened when the victims were in the process of leaving the relationship, getting a divorce, or had already left their partners.
During the press conference, local advocates emphasized the importance of spreading the word about resources for shelter and counseling, safety planning, and the danger of asking “why does she stay” when, in reality, the chances for lethality greatly increase when the victim tries to leave the relationship.
You can read more about the 2014 report and honor the women who were killed by reading their individual stories on the TCFV resource page. You can also watch this news story below -- one of several that aired the day of the press conference.
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Pictured left to right: Houston Area Women's Center Board (and Executive Committee) Member Tom Fitzpatrick, Houston Texans Sr. Community Development Manager Adrienne Saxe, Houston Area Women's Center President and CEO Rebecca White.
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Houston leaders take a STAND against domestic violence in October
See who joined our 2015 Leadership Campaign
With Houston Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien and the Houston Texans Foundation leading the way ... our 2015 Leadership Campaign had a fantastic kick-off and an even better ending. More than 180 of Houston's leading corporations and philanthropists stood with the Houston Area Women's Center in calling for an end to domestic violence in our community. This annual fundraising initiative culminated with a two-page ad in the October 22 edition of the Houston Chronicle, and we were honored to feature the participants' signatures showing their affirmation of support.
Thanks to them - and 2015 Leadership Campaign Chair Tana Pool - we surpassed all previous years' records and raised close to $300,000 to help provide shelter, counseling and support to individuals building lives free from the effects of violence. You can see a copy of the Houston Chronicle ad by clicking here.
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Hop on board the Holiday Gift Express!
Brighten our clients' holidays by donating or volunteering
The holidays can be a difficult time for families dealing with the effects of sexual and domestic violence. You can help brighten their holiday season by donating to our 2015 Holiday Gift Express!
Here's how it works: We transform our office into a mini toy store where our clients can select gifts for their children, who also get to choose something for their parent/guardian!
For our adult and teen clients, gift cards are the best option. For our youngest clients, of course, it's toys toys toys!
No time to shop? You can skip the crowds by making an online donation, and we'll do the shopping for you.
To get answers to FAQs and learn about volunteering opportunities and ways to donate, visit our #HGE2015 web page. Thank you for giving!
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Early bird discounts for Race Against Violence!
Pay less to register if you sign up by Nov. 30
Hopefully you've already saved the date, so now it's time to register! The Houston Area Women's Center's 2016 Race Against Violence - presented by Verizon - will take place on Saturday, March 5, right outside our building at 1010 Waugh Drive. We're so excited and hope you are too.
Go to our #RAV2016 website at hawc.org/raceagainstviolence for details about this annual 5k Run/Walk, Kids Fun Run & Family Festival and your chance to register early to take advantage of special discounts. Hurry ... the prices will go up after November 30!
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We were already big fans of the Houston Texans and, now, we're cheering for the Lady Texans too! As part of their #TexansCare initiative, these wives and significant others of players and coaches stopped by our shelter on October 21 to deliver self-care kits to our adult shelter residents. Houston Texans staff and volunteers also hosted a Play 60 Camp for the kids! Encouraging our adult clients to take care of themselves - and the kids to just be kids - goes a long way in the healing process. It was a great day - and a great way - to see how much #TexansCare.
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Also on October 21, the family of the late Sue L. Nguyen paid a visit to our shelter to see the new, all-weather cover on our toddler playground, generously donated in the memory of Sue, who was a beloved and dedicated HISD guidance counselor for many years. You might also remember when we debuted our Children's Enrichment Center, with much-needed improvements, in 2012. That, too, was made possible by the kindness and generosity of Sue and her family. We are grateful to Sue's family for always being so gracious and supportive. They care very much about our mission and survivors.
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There are so many ways to get involved, and all will help the clients we serve - women and men, adults and children - build lives that are free from violence. Our services are confidential, and our hotlines are available 24-hours a day, every day of the year.
And everything we offer is free ... thanks to you!
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