November
04, 2015

Safe Connections Tenth Annual Voices Ending Violence

Story by Terry Baer

Photos by Terry Baer

Safe Connections Tenth Annual Voices Ending Violence

at Clayton Plaza Hotel, 7730 Bonhomme Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105 benefiting Safe Connections at 5:30 PM

Safe Connections hosted its Tenth Annual Dinner Benefit, “Voices Ending Violence”, at the Clayton Plaza Hotel’s Crystal Ballroom, Wednesday, November 4, 2015. This signature event spread awareness of domestic and sexual violence and raised funds for Safe Connections’ prevention, crisis and therapy services.

The provocative program featured two former clients, Cari Hill and Lindsay Fischer. Cari, a former Miss Webster Groves, has entered her senior year attending William Jewell College on scholarship. This spring, she completed an internship in Washington, D.C. preparing for a career in law and advocacy related to crime victims. Cari shared her moving story about her family struggles. Lindsay, an author, public speaker and domestic violence advocate, conveyed her account anonymously at last year’s Voices dinner. She recently re-released her memoir under her real name and spoke about the ways her life has changed over the past year.

After hearing these testimonials, guests are invited to make a contribution to support Safe Connections’ mission. Board members Dannae Delano and Alexander Schoch discussed the NAP Tax Credit opportunities available. The dinner ended with Ashley’s Video, which used flash cards, not audio, to reinforce her message, followed by board member Eric Hahn’s concluding remarks.

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Safe Connections embodies a place where relationship violence and its long-term effects are addressed in complete confidence and security. Its individual counseling enables thousands of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to reclaim their lives. The 24-hour Crisis Helpline volunteers provide resources and information to survivors, family members and concerned friends. Project HART offers information about healthy relationships to adolescents at schools and other sites around the region.

 

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Event Info

  • Event Chairs:

    Dannae Delano, Alexander Schoch

  • Executive Director:

    Susan D. Kidder, MS

  • Committee Members:

    Table Captains - Niadu Allen, Steph Barron, Ilene Bloom-Ellis, Jennifer Brinker, Carol Brownson, Karen Levin Coburn and Peggy Guest, Monica Conners and Karen Karwoski, Deb Cottin, Dannae Delano, Vicki Dolan, Alvin Doss, Michael Felton and Rhae Yancey, Karrie Flowers, Brooke Foster, Karen Francis, Valerie Gaadt, Rob and Kim Good, Eric and Julie Hahn, Cari Hill, Juliet Holden and Eulonda Nevels, Stacey Hudson and Christy Merdinian, Kristen Johnson, Crystal Kennedy, Susan Kidder, Sara Lewis, Joan Luning, Georgia Palmer, Katy Paul, Nancy Petersen, Jacque Schaefer, Alexander Schoch, Dan Sokol, Patricia Thornton, Jodie Tieber, Nila Tuckson, Daniela Velazquez

  • President/CEO:

    Crystal Kennedy, Esq., Board Chair

  • Staff:

    Janet Amitin-Roberts, MSW, LCSW , Therapist, Lynne Bealke, MSW, LCSW, Therapist, Ilene Bloom-Ellis, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, Director of Clinical Services, Jessica Crump Boyd, MS, LPC, Therapist, Carla Brown, Business Administrative Assistant, Stephanie Brown-Bohlen, Clinical Administrative Assistant, LaDon Champagnie, Guys Group Facilitator/Prevention Educator, Ramona Rutlin Coleman, EdS, Youth Services Manager, Deb Cottin, Director of Development and Marketing, Jess Cowl, MSW, ELS, Crisis Helpline Advocate, Catherine Cox, Crisis Helpline Advocate, Lindsay Dickes, MSW, LMSW, RYT, Adolescent Therapist, Lou Faggetti, MA, LPC, Adolescent Therapist, Germitrious Dixon, Guys Group Facilitator/Prevention Educator, Liz Fales, MA, Crisis and Community Outreach Manager, Karrie Flowers, Business Director, Zenique Gardner, Prevention Groups Coordinator, Rachel Glass, MEd, LPC, Therapist, Heidi Harbin, MA, ATR, LPC, Lead Adolescent Therapist, Mindy Harms-Coleman, MA, LPC, Therapist, Gina Howe, MA, LPC, Adult Clinical Manager, Jeannine Lamb, MEd, LPC, Therapist, Derek Lewis, CHES, Prevention Educator, Margie Lewitt, MSW, LCSW, Adolescent Therapist, Pheonix Lintner, Prevention Educator, Sean Marz, MA, Crisis Helpline Advocate, Allison McDonald, Development Specialist, Deanna McPherson, MPH, MSW, LMSW, Support Services Therapist, James Meinert, Guys Group Facilitator/Prevention Educator, Meg Meyers, MA, LPC , Adolescent Therapist, Y’Londa Mitchell, MA, MEd, PLPC, NCC, Case Manager/Support Services Therapist, Amanda Moller, MSW, LCSW, Assessment and Group Therapist, Katy Paul, Community Partnership Liaison, Dan Pearson, Prevention Educator, Cindy Punzalan, Lead Crisis Helpline Advocate, Lauren Sachs, Community Relations Coordinator, Kathy Sciranko, Grants and Communications Manager, Katie Silversmith, MSW, LCSW, Assessment and Group Therapist, Megan Slusser, MSW, LCSW, Support Services Manager, Julianne Vander Meulen, Business Administrative Assistant, Karen Vaughan, Crisis Helpline Advocate, Michelle Vollmar, MSW, LCSW, Therapist, Katherine F. Wallner, MA, LPC, Lead Adult Therapist, Amy Ziegler, LPC, JD, Therapist

  • Welcome:

    Alexander Schoch

  • Speaker:

    Mission - Susan D. Kidder, Lindsay Fischer, Cari Hill, Dannae Delano, Alexander Schoch

  • Sponsors:

    Presenting-The Marjorie and Marc Seldin Philanthropic Fund; Commerce Bank, Dentons, Husch Blackwell, Lowenbaum Law, Stifel, Thompson Coburn LLP

  • Attendance:

    400 + Guests

  • Attire:

    Evening Attire, Business Formal or Cocktail Attire

  • Special Thanks:

    ISC Contracting, Drury Hotels, the Leadership Circle Benefactors, Steering Committee.

  • Information:

    Deb Cottin, 314.646.7500

  • Ticket Prices:

    Complimentary but donations welcomed.

  • Donors:

    Leaders Circle - Esther Beeks, DDS, Mike and Kim Cahill, Dannae Delano, Kim and Rob Good, Peggy Guest, Carobeth Kelly, Susan Kidder, Tracy McCreery and Thom Wham, Jill Powell, MD, Juliane Praiss, Alexander Schoch, Teresa Luth Thornton, Todd and Amber Tobiasz, Nila Tuckson

  • Steering Committee:

    Mike Cahill • Deb Cottin • Vicki Dolan • Karen Francis Peggy Guest • Susan Kidder • Daniel Sokol

  • Board of Directors:

    Officers - Crystal Kennedy, Esq., Board Chair, Peggy Guest, PhD, Board Vice Chair, Dannae L. Delano, Esq, Board Secretary, Todd Tobiasz, Board Treasurer; Members - Carol A. Brownson, MSPH, Mike Cahill, Vicki Dolan, Michael Felton, AIA, Brooke Foster, MFA, Karen Francis, M.Ed., Ed.S., Eric Hahn, PhD , Dawn Johnson, Esq., Alexander C. Schoch, Esq., Daniel Sokol, Esq., Eleatha L. Surratt, MD, Nila Tuckson, Rhae Yancey