A Special Message from the Executive Director
I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Domestic Violence Resource Center as the new Executive Director. In the short time I’ve been in the role, I’ve become even more acutely aware of the urgent domestic violence problem that continues to grow in Washoe County due to population increases, the affordable housing crisis, lack of mental health services, and the COVID pandemic. I am deeply grateful to the entire Domestic Violence Resource Center team—staff, board members, volunteers, and donors—who worked tirelessly last year to provide a record number of services to our community; 23,488 services that met the needs of 3,126 domestic violence survivors.
The dedication of our team and the inspiring determination of the survivors we work with every day is something to celebrate. And, we plan to do just that!
I’m pleased to invite you to join us at The Purple Gala on Thursday, October 13, 2022 at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa for a special evening celebrating our 45th anniversary and honoring this year’s Hannah Humanitarian Award recipients, Bill Pearce Motors and Denise Yoxsimer, former Domestic Violence Resource Center Executive Director.
You will not want to miss this opportunity to celebrate the more than 100,000 family violence survivors we have helped since 1977 and recognize the extensive and passionate work of Denise and Bill Pearce Motors on behalf of survivors of domestic violence.
Buy tickets today: https://domesticviolenceresourcecenter.ejoinme.org/PG22
I want to extend a special thank you to Malena Raymond, former Interim Executive Director, Marlene Lockard, Immediate Past Board Chair, and the entire Domestic Violence Resource Center Board of Directors and staff for their warm welcome and assistance with transitioning into this new role.
The work of the Domestic Violence Resource Center is truly a team effort. Our collective vision, built upon the incredibly strong foundation laid by Joni, Denise and many others, will create new pathways to serve families healing from violence. I look forward to collaborating with you to carry on our mission and expand our ability to address the challenges survivors face as they gain safety for themselves and their families.
Sincerely,
Kristen Kennedy
Did You Know?
The Domestic Violence Resource Center has the capability to set you up with recurring monthly donations. We see amazing unwavering support from individuals who give on a consistent basis; however, many people don’t realize just how convenient it is to donate monthly to the Domestic Violence Resource Center. By simply clicking on the button below and selecting “recurring donation” you can set up a sustaining gift that fits within your budget as a wise investment that is spread out over the entire year.
Donate today: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E12533&id=8
Monthly donations to the Domestic Violence Resource Center are extremely beneficial from an operational perspective. It enables us to maintain and sustain services that our clients need on a daily basis. A monthly donation of just $20 will provide survivors with very basic needs like meals and transportation assistance. Grocery store gift cards and bags of assorted groceries are offered to all clients as needed as well as transportation vouchers to help clients get to work, appointments, or childcare.
As we look forward, we seek collective, community involvement, to engage in efforts to raise essential funding to help increase our capacity to meet the future needs of domestic violence survivors in our community. We appreciate your consideration of becoming a monthly donor.
Financial Coaching Makes a Difference
Financial control, manipulation and insecurity are significant components in most relationships where domestic violence occurs. During the relationship, the abuser often tightly controls the finances. This type of abuse can be insidious, initially appearing as a considerate offer to take care of the bills or a casual request to borrow money. But it often escalates until the abuser has full control of every bank account, credit card and paycheck.
In 2018, the Domestic Violence Resource Center launched the region’s first and only individualized financial coaching program to benefit domestic violence survivors and their children. Since then, this program has proved to be very successful in providing greater long-term sustainability for those we serve. We have recently completed year four of our financial literacy/coaching program that benefits residential clients (shelter and transitional housing) and their children. Over the past year, 20 adults and 29 associated children received financial advocacy, education, and resources to help them move forward toward financial wellbeing and self-sufficiency. Some of the many successes include:
- 85% of residents opened and/or maintained checking and savings accounts.
- Sixteen residents had full-time employment.
- Three residents maintained part-time employment.
- Four residents are attending school.
- None of our residents have pay day loans.
- One resident paid off their car.
- Six new cars were purchased: four with cash, two with financing.
- Three residents have a credit score of 700 or higher.
- Six residents have credit scores of 600 or higher.
- Five residents have credit scores of 500 or higher.
- Six residents have moved into market-rate apartments.
- Total resident savings equal $120,383.21
- $21,238.56 in debt has been paid off (student loans, credit card bills, medical bills, etc.)
Congratulations to the many survivors who are empowering themselves through financial independence!
