Susan Says

The 10^th annual “Healing Begins with Hope” Outreach and Fundraising Breakfast was a big success! The breakfast, held this year on May 1^st at the Riverside Hotel (a new venue!) is our signature fundraiser benefiting the WCA’s safe shelters and supportive programs for those escaping domestic abuse and sexual violence.  Many thanks to Norco, our presenting sponsor, for making the day possible.

In addition to sharing our mission with many newcomers and loyal supporters alike, we were privileged to hear inspiring stories of survival and individual pathways to healing from both clients and staff. The client video, produced by North by Northwest and Integrity Audio Visual, was a highlight of the morning.  For the first time, one of the testimonials recalled a rape experience and how the WCA assisted in the survivor’s healing.

There were over 400 guests present, all of whom had been invited by 49 Table Hosts.  Everyone agreed that the room was gorgeous.  Each table displayed thank you notes from women successfully transitioning out the shelter into a new life, and guests received a WCA window cling to continue to share our mission.

A special group of Ambassadors were present, both as Table Hosts and guests. The Ambassadors invited friends who had been to our “If These Walls Could Talk” tour and were passionate about the WCA. Ambassadors play an important role in engaging new people in our mission and increasing our reach in the community all year round. With their help, we are able to get information about our services to more people who need them and educate the community on how to break the cycle of abuse. (If you are interested in joining this fantastic team of individuals who are dedicated to furthering our cause, you can learn more here.)

Many thanks to our Table Hosts, our Ambassadors, and all those who took time out of their morning to hear more about today’s WCA.

You can see more photos from the breakfast on our Flickr.