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Message from the Executive Director
Perry Shores Gardners
Day of Unity, Night of Remembrance
De-Feet Domestic Violence 5K Walk/Run
Kids’ Corner
Survivor Testimony
Claire's Story
Claire Cucchiari-Loring: Age 22
I was a music major at ODU. I had
many wonderful friends and a bright
future ahead. I had recently ended
things with my boyfriend of 5 years
and became very frightened of him
after he threatened me with a gun.
My friends and I went out of the
area to go to dinner together. After
leaving the restaurant, he showed up
in the parking lot.
Claire Cucchiari-Loring
W I N T ER
Her Memory Lingers On
2012
One Mother’s Account about Life after Domestic Violence
Claire Cucchiari-Loring was a daughter, sister, student…
woman. On December 6, 2006, Claire Cucchiari-Loring
became a statistic, as one in three homicides in Virginia is
the result of domestic violence. One only has to spend a
few minutes with Claire’s mother, Kate Loring, to know
Claire was so much more.
Claire was a 22-year-old ODU music major who lost her
life to domestic violence when she was fatally shot by her
ex-boyfriend. Her mother describes her as zany and with
compassion and sensitivity, yet she was also independent,
feisty and competent. Kate says Claire had a sweetness that
is hard to encapsulate. Claire was the one friends counted
on. “She was somebody I felt I could really be myself
around. We liked a lot of the same things…like jigsaw
puzzles and making pasta together,” remembers Kate.
According to the 2010 Family and Intimate Partner
Homicide Report, ninety-two females were killed from
family and intimate partner homicide at a rate of 2.3
compared to seventy-eight males at a 2.0 rate. Family and
intimate partner homicide accounts for almost half, 43.5%,
of all homicides in Virginia in 2010. “When I read the
statistics, I’m horrified” says Kate. “Even as the mother of a
victim, it blows my mind how pervasive [it] is,” she adds.
He pulled a handgun and shot
me twice.
Claire with sister, Moray Wilson
Claire with mother, Kate
Kate describes herself as a feminist and an educator who
taught women’s studies. Since her daughter’s death, she’s become
a domestic violence advocate speaking on college campuses
and any public forum about the warning signs and effects of
domestic violence. She feels a “victim’s responsibility” to educate.
“I feel a commitment to Claire and other potential victims to say
this does happen and it happens out of the blue…to too many
women.” Continued on pg.7
Claire's Mother, Kate Loring with Claire's Silent Witness
2620 Southern Blvd • Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Office 757.631.0710 | Crisis Hotline 757.430.2120 | samaritanhouseva.org
h op e . healing. change
th e good s a m a r itan | W INTER 2 0 1 2
h o pe. h ea li n g . c h a n g e
Domestic Violence Victims and Low-Income
Residents Recognized for Communit y Garden.
N ote from the Ex ecutive D irector
As we close one year and turn expectantly to the next,
our thoughts turn to new beginnings and in our agency,
new opportunities to improve the quality of life for
others. Because of the support of individuals, businesses,
and foundations we have a solid track record of doing
just that – for families fleeing domestic violence and
those experiencing homelessness. Samaritan House
provides services to more than 100 individuals every day
and 65 of them are pre-school and school aged children.
There are more than 100 published studies that provide
impressive data demonstrating that children who live in
homes with violence experience the most insidious form
of child abuse. In fact, in a study published this time last
year, brain scans of children from violent homes matched
the brain scan activity of combat veterans returning from
Iraq and Afghanistan!
I am thrilled to share with you that we just received a
commitment from the Sue Cook Winfrey Memorial
Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation
board members
Officers
Grace Albano Orsini, President
Consultant
Karen Anderson, Vice-President
United States Coast Guard
Mary Elizabeth Davis, Secretary
Davis Law Firm
Ken Shewbridge, Treasurer
Tidewater Communications, Inc.
Paul Speece, Past President
McPhillips, Roberts and Deans
Members
Rebecca Breen
Community Volunteer
Rita Ros-Planas
Rita Ros-Planas, Esq., PC
Virginia (Ginger) Dietz
Domestic Violence Educator
Emily Divaris
Community Volunteer
Tera Howe
Bank of America
Diane Angelos Johnston
Community Outreach
J.H. (Jody) Luck
Wells Fargo
Mavis Mckenley
AMG National Trust
Dick Nottingham
Cape Financial, Inc.
Jeff Richardson
Beach Commercial Finance
Andrew Richmond
Poole Mahoney PC
Kerry Sutton
Amerigroup
Dean Marilyn Hodge
Tidewater Community College
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to help us launch our Safe Start Center for children
at Samaritan House. This lead grant of $50,000 is
a testament to our shared priority to insure that all
children have what they need for a safe and successful
start in life.
We look forward to reporting on the outcomes and
successes of the Safe Start Center as we continue to
search for additional donors, grant funding, skilled
volunteers and partnerships that will insure EVERY
child is assessed by a trained professional, has an
individualized service plan and is linked to critical
resources throughout our region.
We hope that you may join this exciting initiative
with your time, talent or treasures because the research
also shows that children have a great capacity to
rebound from neglect and abuse if the holistic and
coordinated services are provided to them.
executive director
Angela Kellam
Angela Kellam
Education Coordinator Talks Women’s Health
Samaritan House offers trainings and workshops to
increase prevention and intervention through education
and outreach. As the Education
and Outreach Coordinator,
Larissa Sutherland, is the face
of Samaritan House in the
community. She attends many
community events as well as
hosts events and training in our
office or wherever needed. “When
we talk about women’s health,
we need to include domestic
violence as a significant concern.
Domestic violence affects the
overall wellness of a person. Not
only does this violence result in
acute, sometimes severe injury
for a lot of women, the violence
may contribute to chronic
health problems like depression,
anxiety, post-traumatic stress
disorder, substance abuse, eating
disorders, and increased risk for
sexually transmitted infections
including HIV/AIDS. Women
who are experiencing domestic
violence are also less able to
practice preventative care or to
manage major health issues such
as diabetes and heart disease,”
Sutherland says. “On any given day, more women will
experience an assault from an intimate partner than will
be diagnosed with breast cancer, or
diabetes, or heart disease, and for
cases involving pregnant women,
domestic violence homicide is a
leading cause of death for mother
and child,” she continues.
“One of the most empowering
results of Education Outreach
is this—when I am out in the
community talking about domestic
violence, people will always tell me
about their personal experiences.
Sometimes, I’m the first person
they’ve ever talked to about what
has happened or is happening
to them. Open dialogue and
education about domestic violence
are essential in creating an
environment where people feel safe
reaching out for support,” she adds.
Larissa sees firsthand the impact
community education and outreach
has in changing lives.
To become a part of the Samaritan
House speaker’s bureau or to learn
more about the trainings we offer,
contact Larissa Sutherland at
[email protected].
2620 Southern Blvd • Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Office 757.631.0710 | Crisis Hotline 757.430.2120 | samaritanhouseva.org
Saturday, September 29,
Perry Shores Gardeners
received a certificate
from Virginia Beach
Mayor, Will Sessoms,
for their submission
of the Perry Shores
Community Garden
to the annual Virginia
Beach Stewardship
Awards. Virginia Beach
Convention Center hosts
the ceremony as part
of the Hampton Roads
Sustainable Living Expo.
Perry Shores Apartments
is a transitional home
owned and operated by
Samaritan House.
Perry Shores Community Garden sprouted
in spring of 2011, under the direction of Perry
Shores and Samaritan House property manager,
Carol Heischober, who studied horticulture in
college. The advent of the garden was a labor of
love for Carol in memory of her daughter Erin
Heischober, who loved the smell of flowers and
passed away from cancer in 2008 at the age of 29.
Residents of Perry Shores are low-income
tenants and families in transition from emergency
shelter. All were invited to participate in the
cultivation of the garden and a community
blossomed. An unused plot behind the complex
provided the perfect location in size and relation
to the sun. Contractors donated their time to
remove an old playground and help tender the
22x24 foot section of land. Residents learned
soil-blocking techniques and became avid readers
of gardening books. With a memorial donation
of flowers, plant and vegetables, the first crop was
underway. Their first harvest of was so abundant
they donated a lot of it to a church that feeds the
homeless. Seven residents, known as the Perry
Shores Gardeners, stepped up to take on the
project and formed a co-op. Any resident who
participates in gardening from purchasing seeds
to watering the crop benefits from the fruits for
their labor.
The Perry Shores Gardeners are mentally,
physically and economically challenged, most of
whom benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP). Gardeners use these
benefits to grow their own food. The Stewardship
Awards were
designed to
Perry Shores Apartments
recognize those
Samaritan House
This vegetable garden has not only beautified
who show
and protected the landscape but made a
leadership and
positive impact on the residents and surrounding
initiative in
community alike.
healthier outdoor
living.
Carol’s vision
for the garden
was to promote
healthy eating
and add beauty
to the property.
The Perry Shores
Community
Garden features flowers, vegetables, fruits
and herbs as well as a garden bench built by
volunteers from the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman.
Erin Heischober’s favorite flowers surround the
perimeter of the garden. Her memory blooms by
the gardeners who plant life every day.
Going Green
In light of receiving an award for
sustainability, after this issue (Winter
2013), Samaritan House will no longer
offer a printed newsletter. Samaritan
House would like to live by example
in doing its part by not harming the
environment. In addition, saving on
printing and postage costs allows us to
spend more towards services that fulfill
our mission of ending domestic violence
and homelessness.
Samaritan House publishes bi-monthly
eblasts, which features real-time updates
of what’s happening in “The House.” The
Good Samaritan is now offered as an
eNEWSLETTER twice a year.
To receive the enewsletter, please send
your email address to samhouse@
samaritanhouseva.org or sign up on our
website at SamaritanHouseVA.org.
2620 Southern Blvd • Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Office 757.631.0710 | Crisis Hotline 757.430.2120 | samaritanhouseva.org
.03
7 domestic violence organizations. 1 great event.
Samaritan House together with YWCA, Genieve Shelter, HER Shelter, Transitions Family Violence Services, Garden of Hope and
Navy Fleet and Family Services came together for the regional Day of Unity, Night of Remembrance Candlelight Vigil, October
1 at Town Center Fountain Plaza. It commemorates the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Barbara Hamm Lee, host
of Another View and chair of YWCA’s board emceed this year’s event. Domestic violence advocates, shelter directors, city leaders
and officials, including Virginia Beach Major Will Sessoms and concerned citizens attended to remember those killed by domestic
violence this year.
WVEC, WAVY, WTKR and FOX 43 covered the event. To see and read more about this
year’s Day of Unity, Night of Remembrance
Vigil, visit SamaritanHouseVA.org
events
A woman passing by the vigil saw someone she knew. Curiously, she stopped in to say hello. Having no knowledge of what she was
attending, the woman was introduced to reality of domestic violence. As she walked around the vigil, she read the silent witnesses. She
never considered her situation as “too bad,” but there in the words of victims who lost their battle with domestic violence, she identified
with one that closely matched her life. That night, she went home, packed her bags and left the relationship.
9th annual
De-Feet Domestic Violence 5K Walk / run
Race photos courtesy of Jerry Rodriquez Photography
Shereese Floyd-Thompson,
Angela Kellam, Executive
Director Samaritan House,
Sarah Pitzen, Ruth Jones,
Executive Director YWCA &
Larissa Sutherland at Town
Center for WVEC Live Shot
(featured with Silent
Witnesses)
October
Purple Approved
Sponsors
Vigil photos courtesy
of Schilling Media
Domestic Violence
Awareness Mont h
Supporters
of vigil
Why We Advocate
Kyle Owens
and Michelle Stauffer,
5K winners
Mayor
Will Sessoms
Winner of kids’
fun run
Linda Bryant,
Keynote Speaker
Domestic violence
shelter directors and activists
Sponsor Spotlight
Patricia Nobles Memorial Scholarship F und
Patricia Nobles (Pat), beloved mother and schoolteacher, lost her battle with
domestic violence in October 2010 when she was shot and killed by her estranged
husband. Her sons, Brian Dunn and Duane Nobles, established a memorial fund in
her honor to carry on her legacy. Patricia Nobles was a well-known pioneer in special
education, serving the Hampton City Schools system for twenty-six (26) years.
Brian Dunn with mother Patricia Nobles
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Team Loofa, Purple Palooza winners
The Patricia Nobles Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in early 2011, honors
Pat’s legacy in the most appropriate way possible – by seeking to improve the futures
of others through education.
2620 Southern Blvd • Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Office 757.631.0710 | Crisis Hotline 757.430.2120 | samaritanhouseva.org
Witt Mares
Beach Commerical
Cintas
Abbey Road Pub
BB&T
Chubb
Davis Law Off ice
Molly Maids
Rita Ros-Planas, Esq.
Patricia Nobles Scholarship Foundation
Tom & Diane Johnston
Bon Secours Home Health
Chartway
Ciniva
Massimo Zannetti
McPhillips, Roberts & Dean
Stihl
Allergy & Asthma Specialists
The Group for Women
Altmeyer Funeral Home
Bon Secours In Motion
Harbour Graphics
J & A Racing
Jemd Petro
Jerry Rodriquez Photography
Lemon Cabana
Progressive Graphics
Tiki Bar Band
Edible Arrangements
Running, Etc.
Krispy Kreme
Delightful Digs
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Patricia Nobles Memorial Scholarship Fund (PNMSF) is two-fold:
1)to provide financial assistance to graduating, minority, high school seniors who are residents of
Virginia and matriculating full-time at a post-secondary educational institution; and
2)to provide awareness, training, and education on issues surrounding domestic violence throughout
the Hampton Roads community and beyond.
Patricia Nobles Memorial Scholarship Fund awards its first honor in June 2013.
2620 Southern Blvd • Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Office 757.631.0710 | Crisis Hotline 757.430.2120 | samaritanhouseva.org
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Claire's Story
Wheeler Dodgeball
Tournament
Dodging Danger Stays
Strong
Raised: $25,000
Gordon Biersch
An International Affair
Silent Auction
Raised $5,000
- Team Dodging Danger,
staff members and friends
- Susan Pleasants,
Tournament Director;
Angela Kellam,
Samritan House
Executive Director;
Kim Wheeler, Wheeler
Foundation Director
Hope,
Healing
And Change
Certified
Events.
- Gordon Biersch
Staff
- Silent Auction
Women Helping Women
Exclusive Event
Taylor Armstrong
Make An Impact
Raised $116,000
- Taylor Armstrong
Gives Keynote
Address
Volunteer Spotlight
To read more about these events, visit our blog at SamaritanHouseVA.org
kids' corner
Daniel Haworth from Norfolk Farm Market taught the children about
pumpkin and gourds. Families selected and decorated pumpkins from our
very own pumpkin patch. Pumpkins were provided courtesy of Norfolk Farm
Market. Volunteers decorated their car trunks and the children stop by to
pick up a treat for a very eventful “Trunk or Treat.”
Holiday Art Contest
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Though it’s been almost six years since
Claire’s death, Kate recently sold the car
Claire drove on the day of her death. She
struggles with reconciling the idea that
letting go of Claire’s material possessions
is not letting go of Claire. Kate says her
family has changed since Claire’s passing.
The tragedy brought them closer together
and they are much more active in the
domestic violence community.
“I feel bad that in all my years as a
feminist and all the work I’ve done, when
I saw it right in front of me, in a fairly
subtle way, but there, I didn’t recognize
it and name it for what it was until it
was too late. I didn’t know, when I was
rejoicing that she had broken up with him,
that I should have been on guard…I’m
much more aware now.”
Today, Claire would be 29. Kate wonders
what Claire would be like today. “I miss the
growth,” she reminisces. “People need to
recognize the patterns and recognize the
Jean Whitt
Prudential Towne Realty
Property Managers
Come Together to
Support "The House"
Raised $15,000
This year, Samaritan House held its
first Holiday Art contest in search
of the perfect image to represent
Samaritan House this season.
Alexis, age 14 created the winning
image. Alexis and her family are in
transitional housing and have been
with Samaritan House for almost
five months.
Continued from pg. 1
Kate believes not enough is being
done to raise awareness and to end
domestic violence, in part because of
how disconnected we are as a people. “It
doesn’t register with most people how
often they open their newspaper and read
about domestic violence. I think it’s still
invisible to most people,” says Kate. And,
on how people view domestic violence
in general, she says,“People don’t want to
think about it. They don’t want to think
about it happening to them or think it
would never happen to them or somehow
they find ways to think the victims brought
it on themselves.” Kate also feels there is
a responsibility on the public level. “Our
government officials and people who
are responsible for the well being of this
country could be doing more.” In Virginia
in 2010, there were 170 homicides related
to family and intimate partner violence, a
22.3% increase from 2009 .
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2620 Southern Blvd • Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Office 757.631.0710 | Crisis Hotline 757.430.2120 | samaritanhouseva.org
“As long as I’m breathing, I should try
to be of service,” says retired college
professor and Samaritan House
volunteer, Jean Whitt.
Samaritan House volunteers are a
valuable resource, especially retirees who
find a way to use skills obtained in the
workforce to even greater measure in a
volunteer capacity.
Jean does for Samaritan House what
she has always done; she teaches. As a
volunteer with the Family Empowerment
Program (FEP), a program that provides
skills training through education, Jean
teaches job readiness skills to victims of
domestic violence and homelessness. She
tutors them in preparation for the GED
as well as co-facilitates group-counseling
sessions. From time to time, Jean also
volunteers at community events to help
raise awareness through education and
outreach. “I want to empower women to
be all they can be. Lifting women up, this
is my passion,” says Whitt.
Though Jean is a teacher by nature, she
confesses she has learned many things
handouts on the cycle of violence and draw
the connection between that and what’s
going on in their own life. It’s hard to do
when you are in the middle of it. It’s so
important for people to know the warning
signs, not only to know them, but not to
ignore them.”
Claire Cucchiari-Loring was a daughter,
sister, and student. There was a life behind
the statistic. A woman. A memory. “Now,
when I make pasta…alone…I miss her,”
Kate concludes.
The Claire Cucchiari-Loring Memorial Scholarship supports
music students at ODU and is administered through the ODU
Educational Foundation. Since 2007, the scholarship already
has helped nine student recipients and the annual fundraiser has
raised a total of more than $18,000. “Her Melody Lingers On”
is an annual fundraiser which raises money to the support the
scholarship. ~
Taken from Our Claire.net
i
2010 Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence in Virginia
Annual Report, Attorney General, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II
ii
2010 Family and Intimate Partner Homicide Report,
Virginia Department of Health, Office of the Chief Medical
Examiner, October 2012
Drive Peace Home
Support healthy relationship education to
prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.
Make your car a vehicle for change with a special
interest license plate from the DMV! This plate
will help fund education programs at Samaritan
House and shelters across the state.
How to get started.
1. Visit www.drivepeacehome.org to download
DMV Form and fill in your current information.
2. Pay $25 (non-personalized plate) or
$35 (personalized plate) by:
Check made out to Action Alliance
(note Samaritan House in the Memo).
or Online securely through Paypal.
from the clients she helps. “There but for
the grace of God go I,” says Jean.
“Anything is possible. This could happen
to any one of us.” Jean admits to being on
a “helper’s high” when volunteering.
“If they are determined to change, I am
determined to help.”
With just a year of volunteer service
with Samaritan House, Jean’s efforts
are immeasurable. Samaritan House is
grateful to Jean and thankful she shares
her ‘Whitt’ with us.
3. Mail completed DMV form.
Mail your completed DMV Special Interest
License Application form and check (if
applicable) to:
Action Alliance
5008 Monument Avenue
Suite A
Richmond, VA 23230
All pre-purchased license plates will be ready
by Spring 2014. If your contact information
changes during this time period, please contact
the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action
Alliance at (804) 377-0335.
If you’re not sure you want a license plate,
but you still want to help, you can make a
contribution directly to Samaritan House’s
Education & Outreach program.
2620 Southern Blvd • Virginia Beach, VA 23452 | Office 757.631.0710 | Crisis Hotline 757.430.2120 | samaritanhouseva.org
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Samaritan House
2620 Southern Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 631-0710
our mission
To foster personal safety, self-sufficiency and personal
growth in adults and their children through freedom
from domestic abuse and homelessness.
hope, healing & change
60% of the people we serve at
Samaritan House are children.
Join our mobile community.
Join our cause.
Text SAMARITAN to 50555
Receive real-time updates on events,
program changes, Samaritan House news
and more. Support our children this
holiday. Tis the season to provide
the hope that changes lives.
Sign up to receive our eblast
Contact: Shereese Floyd-Thompson, ext 272
[email protected]
S amaritan H ouse W ish L ists
H elp
We
us reach , serve , educate and advocate for
– MORE!
need :
Silent Witness Contractor – A visual memorial of a loved one lost to domestic violence
is a powerful statement. Help families share their stories to raise awareness.
Training Facility – Samaritan House believes prevention is a key to ending
domestic violence. Help us offer more trainings and workshops.
Housing Partner - Samaritan House is the largest domestic violence shelter in
the Commonwealth of Virginia, but we want to do more. With your help, we can
shelter more clients.
Employment Partner – Our clients face many barriers, employment is one
of them. Collaborate with Samaritan House to offer our clients a stable job
to self-sufficiency.
If you can help us with these wish lists,
please call Samaritan House at 757-631-0710.
2 4 - hour crisis hotline
(757) 430-2120
www.SamaritanHouseVA.org