VICTIMS RESOURCE CENTER Volume 19 Issue 3 ⚫ Winter—January 2020

sp eakout An Advocate for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

www.vrcnepa.org

570.823.0766 Office

570.823.9115 Fax

LUZERNE COUNTY

360 East End Centre

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

Hotline: 570.823.0765

WYOMING COUNTY

119 Warren Street

Tunkhannock, PA 18657

Hotline: 570.836.5544

CARBON COUNTY

1001 Mahoning Street

Lehighton, PA 18235

Hotline: 610.379.0151

Victims Resource Center services

are funded in part by grants from:

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

United Way of Wyoming Valley

United Way of Greater Hazleton

United Way of Greater Lehigh Valley

Wyoming County United Way

Inside….

Annual Campaign Letter………….…….…..2

Save the Date Gala…..…..….……………….3

Award Nominations…….….…………..…….4

SAAM…………….....……….…………...…….5

NEPA Task Force & VRC Donors..……..….6

In the Community …………...……….……...7

Demin Day…………..………………….……...8

Donating...……………………………………..9

Thank you to all those that donated over the

past year and a half! We made it! We

have moved to our new location at

360 East End Centre

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

We are still getting everything furnished and looking good- so watch for an invitation to an open house in the Spring!

Here are what some have said…

I had an appointment in the office with the new chairs and lighting and I

just wanted to say that it was very comfortable and felt so much better

than before both physically and mentally. It was a much nicer atmos-

phere.

I met with a client yesterday. He loves the new space and he is so happy

that we are not in the basement. He has a physical disability and he is so

grateful that we are on one floor. I took him into the newly furnished

counseling room and he was so happy to see new furniture. He said that

he felt safe and calm. He cannot wait to see what pictures will be in the

room.

December, 2019 Dear Friend, Over the past year, we have seen progress in the ability of victims to speak out about historical and current victimization. The #metoo movement, and other social movements have helped remove barriers that block the voices of victims. Speaking out is a first step on a longer journey. At Victims Resource Center we have seen a continued need for more and more preventative programs, therapy services, and victim support services. As you can see every day in our local newspapers, in television and radio, announcements, crimes are being committed, and the numbers of crime victims are growing.

Crime in our community affects all of us. Resources to deal with these crimes are in demand more than ever. Funding, to address these needs, is vital to make sure that everyone who experiences a violent crime has an opportunity to access the help they need.

For more than 45 years, Victims Resource Center (VRC) has provided advocacy, education and services to help victims. As the new President of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Annual Campaign, I strongly believe in the “preventive programs for students, professionals, and community that are provided by VRC. It's a privilege to serve and support the principles of the VRC and the educational outreach programs, which offer child safety. VRC’s direct services to victims of crime are provided by dedicated and trained staff. They guide victims toward the path of healing. We appreciate your generous contribution towards an agency that encourages people to be productive and caring towards others.”

As Chair of the Campaign, I have had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors for VRC for several years, and was honored to be elected as President in 2019. During this time, I have seen the increasing challenges of continuing “to provide a comprehensive range of quality services within a climate of decreased funding. In my role I have been able to appreciate the value that VRC brings to our community and the growing need to protect the rights of victims of crime. We need this voice for justice in our community and ask for your support.”

Please consider a gift to VRC to continue the valuable work we provide to Luzerne, Wyoming and Carbon Counties. Fill out the attached pledge card and donate any amount you can. Support our 24-hour hot line, counseling services, educational presentations and professional staff assistance to help individuals we serve go from being a victim… to a survivor.

Sincerely,

William J. Aquilino Campaign Chair

Board of Directors

William Aquilino, President

Everal Benjamin Eaton IV, Vice President

Lisa Valenti, Treasurer

Lisa Ninotti, Secretary

Justin Brown

Regina Corchado

Kim Dyszlewski

Meghan E. Flanagan

Mary Ann Kania

Sharon Lord

Michelle Morgan

Tom Mosca

Richmond Parsons

Vicki Prekel

Tyler Ryan

Maura Smith

Jada Swinski

Katrina Wallace

www.vrcnepa.org

570.823.0765 Office

570.823.9115 Fax

360 East End Centre

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

570.823.0765 Hotline

119 Warren Street

Tunkhannock, PA 18657

570.836.5544 Hotline

1001 Mahoning Street

Lehighton, PA 18235

610.379.0151 Hotline

EVENT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITES

There are many levels of sponsorships available for both the 2020 GALA and the Gerani-

um Sale. You can help us to make our events more successful by increasing the profits

and receiving recognition for your support! Call 570-823-0766 and speak with Janet

MacKay at ext. 101 or Mark Zamerowski at ext. 102 to get more information.

Victims Resource Center is inviting nominations for the 2020 Allied Professional Award

Nominations should be made in the form of a letter and supplemental information should include:

• Nominator name & contact information

• Nominee name & contact information A description of how the nominee exemplifies at least three of the following attributes:

Supports the mission of VRC Partners with VRC to address issues of violence Promotes VRC and its services in the community Contributes to the community’s knowledge of the services of VRC

• Optional letters of support for the nominee from community organization or individuals Answers should be typed and answered fully. The more complete the information provided, the more useful this form will be for those judging this important award.

Victims Resource Center is inviting nominations for the 2020 Advocate of the Year Award

Nominations should be made in the form of a letter and supplemental information should include:

• Nominator name & contact information

• Nominee name & contact information A description of how the nominee exemplifies at least three of the following attributes:

Promotes and supports VRC’s services to victims and survivors, in the community Works behind the scenes to promote the agency and its mission Personal commitment to issues confronting victims of sexual assault, domestic violence,

and other crimes Shows leadership qualities that have contributed to the health and vitality of the organiza-

tion Supports legislation that is beneficial for victim/survivors

• Optional letters of support for the nominee from community organization or individuals Answers should be typed and answered fully. The more complete the information provided, the more useful this form will be for those judging this important award. Please submit nominations by February 21st to:

Victims Resource Center Attention: Janet MacKay 360 East End Centre, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 OR fax to 570-823-9115 or email to jmackay@vrcnepa.org

Training

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

Anne Holmes*Ben Eaton*Building Blocks Learning Center*D. James & Evelyn Kersey*Gerald Idec*John J. & Josephine Thomas Charitable Foundation*Deborah A. Jones*Joseph DeHaut*Susan Kramer*Lehman Idetown United Methodist Women*Iris Libenson*Lisa East-wood*Lisa Ninotti*M&T Charitable Foundation*Mark Zamerowski*Mary Beck*Mary Dal-mas*MaryClaire Mullen*Michele L. Kessler*Navient*Naerea Pioneer Club- Factoryville*Nina Probel*Panther Valley Elementary School*Patricia Sample*Janet MacKay*Philip & Penny Reid*Roberta & James Mohr*Ronald Kukuchka*Nina Santerelli*Susan Spry*Suzanne Beck*Terry & Theresa Renninger*The Maslow Family Foundation*Thomas P. Mosca*Tracie Wood*Lisa Valenti*Verizon Pioneer Club- Wilkes-Barre*White Haven Lions Club*

The NEPA Task Force Against Human Trafficking pro-vided a training on Human Trafficking at Marywood University in Lackawanna County. The focus of the training was to raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking, to provide screening tools and identify re-sources for human trafficking victims. Continuing Edu-cation Credits were approved for this training for social workers, law enforcement and attorneys. In addition, PCCD Office of Victims Services approved credits for victim service professionals. The training was well at-tended with nearly 100 individuals from many disci-plines participating.

Pictured: From left to right, Trainers, Michele Minor Wolf, Thomas P. Mosca and Tammi Burke.

Victims Resource Center staff presented a program to the Conyngham Crime Watch. The program in-cluded information on Victims Resource Center ser-vices, sexual assault awareness and how our re-sponse to sexual assault victims matters.

VRC staff completed the six-session

series Expect Respect with the 11th

grade Health class at Jim Thorpe Area

High School. Expect Respect is a na-

tionally recognized, evidenced-based,

primary prevention program which tar-

gets the underlying causes of violence

in order to change social norms and pre-

vent dating violence before it occurs.

In the Community

VRC staff accept holiday donation from Na-

vient. Pictured left to right: Suzanne M. Beck

- VRC; Eileen Halesay- Navient; and Janet

MacKay- VRC.

VRC staff accept holiday do-

nation from the M&T Chari-

table Foundation. Pictured

left to right: Janet MacKay-

VRC; Philip H. Johnson-

M&T Charitable Foundation;

and Suzanne M. Beck- VRC.

In 1992 an 18-year-old Italian girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. He was convicted, but the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans and would have had to help remove them. They ruled that by helping to remove the jeans it was not rape but consensual sex. Enraged by the verdict, the women of the Italian Parliament wore jeans on the steps of the Supreme Court. Denim Day is now an International Day to protest all the myths about why women & girls are raped.

We ask everyone in NEPA to make a statement and take a visible stand against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence. Ask your school or workplace to support Denim Day and VRC on 4.29.20! Please contact Suzanne at VRC (570-823-0766 x114, sbeck@vrcnepa.org) if you would like help with your Denim Day.

You can help support Victims Resource

Center in a number of ways…

or make a donation by choosing Victims Resource Center

for your facebook fundraiser…

Gift Card

YES! I/We want to help support services and educa-

tion programs in Luzerne, Carbon and Wyoming

Counties.

Amount of my gift

$1,000 $500

$250 $100

$50 Other

Name:

Address:

City:

State: Zip:

Phone:

Email:

To make a credit card donation visit:

www.vrcnepa.org

You can also donate by texting “GIVE2VRC” to 44-321

Mail to: Victims Resource Center

360 East End Centre

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

_______ I would like to be contacted about including

Victims Resource Center in my will.

Please contact me about a VRC speaker for my

community group, workplace, place of worship,

school, etc.

VRC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The official organization and finan-

cial information for VRC may be obtained from the PA Department of State by

calling (800) 732-0999 within Pennsylvania. Registration does not imply en-

dorsement.