Newsletter // Issue: May 2017
Witnessing the Journey - Spring Open House
Women’s Advocates held an Open House on April 18, and about fifty community
members had a chance to meet our program staff, volunteers, board members, and see
first-hand how three Victorian homes have been turned into a haven for safety and
brighter futures for 50 women and children daily.
Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman opened the event’s program with a few words about the
importance of family safety, and guests heard beautiful poetry by a former Women’s
Advocates’ resident, who also dedicated a piece of artwork to the shelter! Saint Paul
Councilmember Chris Tolbert and an aide from Ramsey County Commissioner Toni
Carter’s office were also in attendance, giving event goers a chance to speak with
community leadership about women’s safety. Women’s Advocates is grateful to all who
attended!
The next Open House will be on August 8th – please email Tom at
[email protected] to sign up or learn more about the event.
Educating the Community
In This Issue
Spring Open House
Thank YOU - Positive Change
"Donut Let Love Hurt"
Supporter Spotlight
Educating the Community
Gerry Rauenhorst "Building Community
Award"
Volunteer Spotlight
Thank YOU - Positive Change
Through May, which is Mental Health
Awareness Month, Women’s Advocates staff
have been emphasizing the correlation between
mental health and domestic violence in our
community presentations. The most common
ways that domestic violence affects victims
psychologically is in the form of panic attacks,
anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Difficulty
concentrating and sleeping are also common
(these effects are particularly damaging for
students who have experienced dating
violence). Embarrassment, shame, guilt,
confusion, and numbness are other typical
effects (not diagnosable as mental disorders
but still very important to consider).
As evidenced here, there is also a strong
correlation between domestic violence or dating
violence and using alcohol and drugs to cope.
For the month of June, Women’s Advocates will
be expanding our awareness and education
efforts to women's clothing stores, nail salons,
clinics, and a large group of retailers, and
dental clinics with presentations at their
respective monthly meetings.
Women’s Advocates is thrilled to
announce that a record-setting $13,826
was raised for its shelter via Mississippi
Market’s “Positive Change” program,
one of the highest monthly totals in the
program’s history. This monthly
fundraiser allows customers to donate
their 10-cent reusable bag credit or
round-up their purchases to the next
dollar amount to support local St. Paul
non-profits. During April, over 27,000
individual round ups and over 19,000
reusable bag credits were donated,
making this a truly community-wide
effort.
“Our Positive Change program is one of
the many ways we are able to give back
to the community we serve,” states
Matt Frank, Mississippi Market’s
Communication Specialist. “We’re
thrilled that co-op shoppers collectively
raised one of our largest monthly
Thank you for your votes!
Women's Advocates won the
Gerry Rauenhorst "Building
Community Award"
Positive Change totals yet for an
outstanding social cause.”
Women’s Advocates would like to thank
Mississippi Market staff and shoppers
for bringing positive change to our
community!
Alpha Chi Omega - "Donut Let
Love Hurt"
Women’s Advocates is thrilled to announce
that it won the Third Annual Gerry Rauenhorst
Building Community Award, a gift of
$64,000! Our organization was nominated for
this award along with seven other wonderful
nonprofits across the nation working hard to
build healthy and safe communities.
After a ten-day voting period and nearly
50,000 votes cast, Women’s Advocates came
in first place! Women’s Advocates THANKS
each person who took the time to vote and
asked others to vote!
On behalf of survivors of domestic violence in
our community, Women’s Advocates would
like to thank its staff, volunteers, supporters,
friends, friends of friends, and local
community partners for making this happen!
Volunteer Spotlight - INFOR staff
The individuals pictured below dedicated a full
afternoon of volunteer work to Women’s
Advocates. During their visit, they deep
cleaned our facilities and provided some much
needed beautification to our landscaping and
yard. Thanks INFOR for bringing the world of
software and your hard work to our shelter!
In early April, Women's Advocates'
volunteers and supporters from Alpha Chi
Omega's University of MN chapter held
an awareness event and fundraiser on
campus, selling donuts and refreshments
and allowing passersby to fill out
encouraging cards for Women's
Advocates’ residents. Crisis resources
were also available for any students and
faculty to collect as well. Proceeds from
this event were donated to the shelter.
There was even a Snapchat filter created
(seen below) to spread the message
further! Thank you, Alpha Chi Omega!
Supporter Spotlight - Bruno's
Walk
Shout out and huge thanks to Bruno,
who walked 35 miles around the Twin
Cities on his 35th birthday to benefit
Women's Advocates! He asked friends
and family to sponsor each mile with
donations to Women's Advocates! What a
creative (and athletic) way to make an
impact! Thank you Bruno!
Quick Links
Our Website
Donate Now
Volunteer
Wish List
Crisis Line: 651-227-8284
Please visit our website at wadvocates.org.
Donations: wadvocates.org/donate.