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Corporate Pillar Spotlight: Celebrating Community Partnerships
by Lisa Uhlmann, WCA Corporate Pillar Manager
 It’s a beautiful accomplishment when one of our Corporate Pillars combines resources, imagination and effort with some of their vendors and business associates to help the WCA. This happened on August 22nd, when ESI led the effort to improve the safety of the playground area at our secure shelter,
Serena’s House.
The walkway to the play area as well as some of the ground inside was made of pavers that had become uneven and was showing signs of wear. WCA staff expressed concern about the situation. Fast forward to today, now there is a new walkway allowing the kids to safely move from the indoor childcare area to the outside playground.
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FitMania World
by Lisa Uhlmann, WCA Corporate Pillars Manager
 The FitMania World’s Biggest Boot Camp on August 16th at Julia Davis was phenomenal! Over 300 participants enjoyed going through an absolutely fun group workout, while also benefitting the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. This fabulous morning was created by the FitMania team.
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Domestic Violence in the News
by Madeline D’Onfro, WCA Outreach Coordinator
The reality of domestic violence hit especially close to home for residents of Canyon and Ada Counties this month. The homicide of Nampa resident, Selena Thomas, by her fiance, was not only a tragedy but a wake-up call for many as to the prevalence of domestic violence in our communities.
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WCA Gears Up for the Clothesline Project
 Since 1998, the WCA has organized a local display of the Clothesline Project for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The project began in 1990 in Hyannis, Massachusetts, to give a voice to victims and survivors of domestic violence and create a powerful public display of what is too often considered a private matter.
Each year, we invite participants in our RAP group for survivors of domestic abuse and their children to paint t-shirts portraying their experiences with violence, victimization, and healing, as an exercise in art therapy. With the painters’ permission, the WCA delivers clotheslines of these shirts to hang in businesses and organizations around Boise to raise awareness of the lasting impacts of domestic abuse in our community.
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The Power of a Voice
by Madeline D’Onfro, WCA Outreach Coordinator
 Danielle Tudor is a woman who understands the power that one voice can have. A victim of sexual assault, she has used her story and her voice to help keep her offender behind bars. She has also used her voice to raise awareness of sexual assault for victims everywhere. The staff at the WCA recently had the opportunity to hear Danielle speak. Danielle courageously told us about her experiences, explaining that while she now speaks publicly about her past, there were many years in which she held her story in.
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Staff Spotlight: Meet Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hoene, Administrative Specialist
 What do you do in your job at the WCA?
I provide administrative support at the front desk. As people call or come in, whether to seek information, come to an appointment with a case manager or counselor, or bring in a donation we are the first point of contact. I also process the daily monetary transactions, provide the controller with a daily report and process all the gift-in-kind donations.
How long have you been with the WCA?
Since January of 2012.
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Supporting WCA Clients: August Evolution & Bigelow Teas
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Mrs. Garden City, Virginia Treat, presenting $1,100 donation to the WCA’s Bea Black
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Safety, Healing, and Freedom…
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Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Pam
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Pam Johnson, WCA Volunteer
 What do you find most rewarding about your work at the WCA?
I’ve found that the most rewarding aspect of my work at the WCA is seeing the smiles and appreciation from people receiving the Christmas and Back to School items. I have been being involved with the Christmas Sponsorship as both a sponsor and a volunteer– helping to retag, organize and hand out the gift to families.
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NFL in the News
The past two weeks have been busy ones for the NFL, as stories surrounding their recent policy changes have filled news outlets. This has only increased since the latest story around the Ravens’ Ray Rice unfolded in the past two days. Here at the WCA we would first like to commend Commissioner Goodall’s address to all of our organizational leaders. We appreciate his position on domestic violence and sexual assault and are pleased to see that these acts of violence have finally risen to merit the level of punishment a player might receive for behaving badly on the field – or being disrespectful to an umpire! Domestic violence and sexual assault are very serious issues and we believe that change is possible especially through education, sanctions, and policy change like what we have seen within the NFL.
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HOGS: Let’s Ride
 On Saturday, September 13th, The Ladies of Harley – Hawley Owners group will be sponsoring a special ride to benefit the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. The ride, sponsored by High Desert Harley Davidson, will start at the High Desert Harley-Davidson store, 2310 E. Cinema Drive in Meridian.
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Announcement: Vote for WCA on Facebook
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 Vote for the WCA to be selected as Kendall Ford’s partner for the Boise State basketball season. You can vote once each day through September 12. Share with your friends!
Like the Kendall Ford page
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Survivor’s Story
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Brenda, a volunteer at the WCA, spoke to KBOI2 News on Tuesday, August 19th about her personal story as a survivor of domestic abuse. Brenda hopes that by speaking up about her experiences she may be able to help others’ get out of their own abusive relationships. With the help of FACES Family Justice Center and the Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Brenda was able to escape a violent situation and find peace for herself and her children. Watch the full clip on KBOI2’s website here.
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20th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act
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“We’re not going to succeed until America embraces the idea that no man has a right to raise his hand to a woman except for in self-defense… That no means no, whether it’s in the bedroom or in the back of a car. Rape is rape,” Biden said during a commemorative event at the National Archives. “Until we reach that point we’re not going to succeed.”
To read more, click here.
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Wish Lists
Our lists of needed items are updated monthly and always available on our website. New items from this list below can be dropped off at the WCA Lobby at 720 W Washington St. M-F from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Non-perishable/non-expired food items
- Boxes of tissues
- Compact florescent light bulbs (60 w)
- Mattress covers (twin-sized vinyl zippered only)
- Wipes
- Diaper Genie bag refills
- Bibs
- Twin bedding sets (boys and girls themes)
- Hooded towels
- High chairs
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Bea Black, Executive Director
Last week I had the opportunity to hear from a woman who suffered a horrific rape at the young age of 17. Not only was she raped, she was raped in her home by a complete stranger. As she bravely shared her story, what really gave me pause was what she shared with respect to the parole process.
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Susan Kelley, Development Director
Is your beloved vehicle ready for retirement?
Support the Women’s and Children’s Alliance with a tax-deductible vehicle donation to the Idaho Youth Ranch! The WCA is working in partnership with the Idaho Youth Ranch to share donations of vehicles (car, truck, motorcycle, RV, boat, golf cart, plane or other vehicle).
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Bev La Chance, Deputy Director
It’s that time of the year again, schools are welcoming children back to class and kids are reconnecting with old buddies and making new friends. For those children coming from homes where domestic violence occurs there may be difficulties in school that range from problems with concentration to poor academic performance and difficulty with peer interaction.
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Volunteer Announcement
The WCA is in need of child care volunteers for Monday and Wednesday mornings each week. If you love working with kids and have a heart for what we do in our community, this could be for you!
We will also be looking for volunteers to help with Christmas events in November and December.
For more information on either of these opportunities please contact Tami at [email protected]
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Thank you to the 2014 SueB Memorial Run/Walk Sponsors!
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