Annual Event Raises 30K to Help Fight Domestic Violence in Orange County, NY

NEWBURGH, N.Y. - Oct. 27, 2015 - PRLog -- Contact:
Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier
(845) 562-5365 Ext. 100
kkostyal@safehomesorangecounty.org

SAFE HOMES’ SUPPORTERS RAISE 30K AT ANNUAL DINNER

Newburgh, NY—October 27, 2015—Safe Homes of Orange County’s annual fundraising and awards dinner held on October 22 gathered 165 friends and supporters and raised over $30,000 for the agency’s comprehensive services for domestic violence survivors and public education programs.

One of the agency’s many events in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Celebration of Hope recognizes groups and individuals in the community whose actions advance Safe Homes mission for the elimination of all forms of domestic violence.  This year, awards were presented to honorees Paula Ray, Principal, Patricia Zang-DeClue, Guidance Counselor and Andrea Oldfield, Educator, all with Career and Technical Education at Orange-Ulster BOCES; Sgt. Guy Farina with the Town of Montgomery Police Department; Suzyn Barron, President of the Warwick Valley Humane Society; and the 1^st Lt. Louis Allen Scholarship and Community Foundation.

Echoing a quote from noted Holocaust survivor and Noble Prize laureate, Elie Weisel, Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, Safe Homes Executive Director, called on event guests to “take sides” in the face of oppression:  “Use your voice when others are silenced. Take a side. Stop asking why she doesn’t leave. Start asking why he abuses. Take a side. Demand more from our political leaders, sports icons, teachers, role models. Take a side.”

Safe Homes largest annual fundraising event was sponsored by Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc., Crystal Run Healthcare, Mediacom, Orange Regional Medical Center, KeyBank, Police Chiefs’ Association of Orange County Police Academy, Sharon Lee Henderson, M&T Bank and St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.  Among guests in attendance were Steven M. Neuhaus, County Executive; David M. Hoovler, District Attorney; Orange County Legislators Leigh Benton and Shannon Wong; Justice Robert A. Onofry, Surrogate Court; retired Justice John McGuirk; William Worden, President of the Police Chiefs’ Association of Orange County and Chief of Police for the City of Port Jervis; Chiefs of Police Arnold Amthor, Town of Montgomery, and Dominick Blasko, Town of Crawford.

Safe Homes works toward the elimination of domestic violence by offering confidential and comprehensive support services to survivors, and by increasing public awareness through education and prevention programs. For more information, go to www.safehomesorangecounty.org or call 845-562-5365. For help, call Safe Homes’ 24-HOUR-HOTLINE at 1-888-503-4673 (HOPE).

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