Give Me Shelter
Renewing WAVI’s Most Visible Asset
“My kids have seen too much,
and I have been hurt too many
times. This is the first time that we
have been in a place where we
can begin to heal.”
In-Shelter Client
Our Mission: WAVI works
to create a community free from
domestic violence and sexual assault
through advocacy, education, and
support services.
Our Vision:
violence.
A world free from
Since the Shelter
Opening...
• Close to 40 babies spent
their first night home in
WAVI’s shelter.
• 136 women have
celebrated Mother’s
Day while staying in
shelter.
• At least one child celebrates their
birthday in shelter each month…some
months, five or six children do.
• 218 women and children have
celebrated Christmas Day at WAVI.
• 2,938 families have been given a fresh
start—a chance to lead a life without
violence.
• Women and children have spent a total
of 90,107 days at WAVI— the equivalent
of nearly 247 years.
In One Year
In 2013
• Case Managers provided comprehensive
support to 2,082 victims. 28% of them were
under the age of 12.
• WAVI staff answered 1,585 crisis calls on our
24 hour hotlines. That’s over 4 calls per day.
• Case Managers assisted with 93 protection
orders.
• 289 women and 303 children stayed
in WAVI’s shelter—that’s a total of 592
individuals for 9,390 shelter days.
• WAVI provided 1,409 counts of criminal
justice advocacy, supporting victims
through the court system to hold abusers
accountable.
• WAVI staff gave 117 presentations to 1,539
individuals, most of them youth, to help
our community identify, address, and end
violence.
• 267 women attended support groups held
weekly at WAVI.
• Volunteers gave over 6,700 hours of service
to WAVI projects, events, and emergency
room response.
Give Me Shelter
means:
New beds, for a child’s peaceful night’s sleep.
New floors, to support women taking the
difficult steps of a new life.
A new kitchen, where women can share
a meal knowing they are not alone in their
journey.
A new beginning, for the women we serve, and
for WAVI continued work toward the day when
violence ends.
“I want to
take staff with me
when I move into
my own place. I
appreciate all of
the lessons you
have helped me
learn while I was at
WAVI.”
-In-shelter client
Give Me Shelter
Budgeted Phases
Phase One: Bedrooms, Upper Level Floors and
Common Areas, Furniture
Phase Two: Kitchen and Dining Area Upgrades
Phase Three: Lower Level Common Areas, Office Area
Flooring and Furniture, Security Systems Updates
Phase One: Bedrooms, Flooring, and Furniture $60,000
Average cost per room, including all flooring for upper level
and furnishings: $4,140
Phase Two: Full Kitchen and Dining Remodel:
$60,000
To include all new flooring, cabinets, counter tops, sinks,
appliances, and improvements to the walls, stairs and railings.
Phase Three: Security and Admin Facility
$105,000
To include full security systems upgrade, new flooring in the
offices and lower levels, and office furniture updates.
Total: $225,000
WAVI Needs You
WAVI’s shelter is available 24 hours a day, every day of
the year to ensure that any victim in need has a safe
place to go. But we can’t do it alone.
With your support, WAVI will continue to provide safety
and comfort for every victim who walks in our door,
in a facility that reflects WAVI’s standard of care and
compassion. Together, we can give safe shelter to those
who need it most.
Levels Of Giving
$10,000+ Advocate’s Circle
$5,000 - $9,999 Champion
$2,500 - $4,999 Protector
$1,000 - $2,499 Peacekeeper
Under $999 Friend
Responsible
Stewardship
WAVI’s shelter doors first opened ten years ago. In
that time, we’ve prided ourselves in taking care of
our facility and our furniture. We still have our original
beds (and most of the mattresses!). Our renovation
investments include dormitory-grade furniture which is
durable and easier to maintain. Our new flooring was
selected for its longevity and low maintenance.
Additionally, WAVI has a proven record of
responsible fiscal policy. We maintain a strong ratio of
programmatic to administrative spending (80% of every
dollar goes to programs and services). We are proud to
be a United Way agency.
Give Me Shelter
Campaign Leadership
Peg and Ed Seljeskog
Honorary Chairs
St. Francis of Assisi said “Start by doing what is necessary,
then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the
impossible.“ WAVI has been doing that for over 36 years. We
are grateful that we have been able to assist WAVI in “doing
the impossible” by keeping up on “what is necessary” and
giving “what is possible.”
Ten years ago this wonderful facility opened and has been
busy every day and every night. In the hospitality business,
the budget includes PIP (Property Improvement Plan) funds
which set aside dollars to replace mattresses, finishes, bed
frames, furniture, etc. Due to the (unfortunate) crisis nature
of operating a domestic violence/sexual assault program
and shelter, it has not been possible to set aside those dollars.
We call upon our community neighbors, friends and
businesses to understand “what is necessary,” determine
“what is possible” (and a little more?) for you to contribute
and be part of WAVI’s “doing the (seemingly) impossible”
- working with victims of domestic violence and/or sexual
assault to lead hopeful and safe lives.
WAVI Board of
Directors
WAVI Staff
Leadership
Sarah Morrison
President
Executive Director
Mary Corbine
Lori Barnett
Vice President
Mallory Heutzenroeder
Development Director
Tracy Laher
Secretary
Lisa Clendenin
Operations Director
Brett Simons
Treasurer
Linda Shroll
Program Director
Mitchell Stone, Ph.D
Past President
“Too often we
Genni Goschke, Psy.D
Marty Graves
Sandra Honke, MD
Karl Jegeris
Suzanne Koehler
Give Me Shelter
Campaign Chair
Gayle Thom
Peg Seljeskog
Board Member Emeritus
underestimate the
power of a touch, a
smile, a kind word,
a listening ear, an
honest compliment,
or the smallest act
of caring, all of
which have the
potential to turn a
life around.”
Leo Buscaglia
Give Me Shelter
My/our pledged gift to renew WAVI’s most visible asset is $_______________
I/We wish to contribute this pledge as:
___One time gift
___Annual payments for __1 __2 __3 years
___Quarterly payments for __1 __2 __3 years
___Monthly payments for __1 __2 __3 years
(Payable by cash, check, credit card, or EFT)
___Pledge Enclosed ___Contact me for billing
Donor Information
$10,000+ Advocate’s Circle
$5,000 - $9,999 Champion
$2,500 - $4,999 Protector
$1,000 - $2,499 Peacekeeper
Under $999 Friend
Pledges over $1,000 will be commemorated
in a special display at WAVI.
Name______________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________
City_____________________________ State__________ Zip________________________
Phone __________________________ Email _____________________________________
Donors will be recognized in WAVI communications.
Please list me/us as ____________________________________________________________
___I/we wish to remain anonymous
I would also like information regarding:
______Including WAVI in my estate ____Donations of stock
Give Me Shelter
Renewing WAVI’s most visible asset
Your pledge to Give Me Shelter is a
commitment to peace in our community.
Thanks to you, thousands of women and
children will find the shelter, safety, and support
they need to break the cycle of violence.
Please return this pledge form to:
Working Against Violence, Inc
527 Quincy Street
Rapid City, SD 57701