Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
Building a Community Free of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
"It Happens Here", a message shared in a recent county-wide marketing campaign, reminds us that domestic violence and sexual assault put many in our community in real danger. Since 1975, SafeHouse Center has been available to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in crisis situations. Comprehensive services such as 24-hour on-call response teams, safe shelter, individual counseling, support groups, advocacy in the courts, safety planning, and support services for children help survivors rebuild their lives.
In 2012 alone, SafeHouse helped 5,081 survivors. Staff and volunteers also provided education and outreach to 6,520 people through its Teen Voice Program, Speakers Bureau, and community presentations.
Early on, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation helped SafeHouse purchase its first building. Since then, AAACF and its donors have provided an additional $130,000 to help expand the Center’s programming and services including two endowments at AAACF which will help support the Center’s mission in perpetuity. A $20,000 grant in 2010 made SafeHouse’s recent marketing campaign possible. Executive Director Barbara Niess-May notes, The campaign not only raised community awareness but also increased the number of survivors seeking our services - helping us save lives."
One of the many ways the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation supports all that is good in our community.
Read more "good" stories at:
aaacf.org/stories
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