CODA November 2015 Newsletter

Taking A Stand Against Domestic Violence
B U S I N E S S
N A M E
A Publication of CODA (Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse)
November 2015
My Sister’s Keeper: Lowcountry Love in Abundance
Not even a 1,000-year flood could keep a record crowd from this year’s My Sister’s Keeper event. Two-hundred and
twenty supporters - over four times the number at last year’s event - braved the elements to raise awareness and help
survivors of domestic violence.
Thanks to the support of donors like you, $32,000 was raised for
domestic violence survivors, another event record.
Beth Young, CODA’s Vice President, remarked of the event, “There
have been many times when I've considered myself blessed to live
in Beaufort County, but never more than I did last evening.”
Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s
My Sister’s Keeper event. The event raised a record
$32,000 to support victims of domestic violence!
“The steering committee and volunteers - led by Janet Thomas,
John Giles, Beth Young and Peggy Parker - deserve all the credit
for the event’s success,” says Kristin Dubrowski, CODA’s Executive
Director. “They searched long and hard for sponsors and auction
items. They stepped forward to introduce CODA to their personal
connections, particularly those in Bluffton and Hilton Head. We
couldn’t be more pleased by the event’s outcome.”
Held at the home of Peggy Parker, My Sister’s Keeper brought together survivors of domestic violence and supporters
of CODA’s mission.
During the event, author Wendy Politzer spoke about her experience serving on a jury in a domestic violence trial. “It
only took five minutes to judge the alleged perpetrator as guilty,” said Wendy. “But we remained in the deliberation
room; we weren’t ready to leave.”
To event attendees, Wendy described that her fellow jurors were
so shocked and horrified by the crime, that they sat together and
shared stories - personal accounts of how domestic violence had
touched their lives. They resolved to each do their part to break
the silence, and speak out against domestic violence. Wendy’s
involvement with CODA stems from that experience.
“If we’re going to end domestic violence by supporting survivors
and holding perpetrators accountable, it’s going to take everyone
in our community,” explains Kristin. “We’re lucky; we have the
best supporters around to help us do that.”
View of the May River at My Sister’s Keeper - the
rain cleared for a lovely evening.
Taking A Stand Against Domestic Violence
Thank You to My Sister’s Keeper Planning Volunteers
Thank you to John Giles, Jan Billingslea, Janet Thomas, Beth
Young, Sylvia Rainey and Mayra Rivera –Vazquez members of the steering committee and the main reason for
the event’s success this year.
Janet Thomas and John Giles*, Event Co-Chairs
Jan Billingslea
Deborah Boyd
Liz Brown*
Boyce Ann Bryant
Eileen Cavanaugh
Anne Cooke
Martha Davis
Sheri Davis
Connie Dugan
Sandy Ewing
Rhonda Farmer*
Eileen Fitzgerald
Ed Forrest
Margie Fox
Jen Friend-Kerr
Richard Hammes
Maggie Hammer
Sue Hansz
Diana Heitman
Tim Heitman
Roz Hollis
Betsy Horn
Meredith Irion*
Cheryl L. Kanuck
Marietta Kerr
Lin Laffitte
Diana Latteri
Bette Lynch
Peggy Parker
Eileen Poveromo*
Sylvia Rainey
Mayra Rivera-Vazquez*
Esther Rosen
Caren Ross*
Jeneane Ryan*
Peg Schlichtemeier
Ilene Schwartz
Karen Smedley*
Gloria Statham
Catherine Stewart*
Carol Willey
Fatima Zeidan*
*CODA Board Member
Thank You to My Sister’s Keeper HOPE Sponsors
Peggy Parker
James Black, Tents and Things, Hampton, SC
Allstate Insurance – Steve Helwig and Associates
Dr. Janet Thomas
Rebecca McCarthy
Coral Resorts
Modern Classic Motors - Mercedes Benz of Hilton Head & Hilton Head Honda
Page 2
November 2015
Wedding Dresses are Poignant Reminder of Domestic Violence’s Toll
One of the most powerful elements of the My Sister’s Keeper event was a display of four wedding dresses. Adorning
the dresses were 147 cards - one for each person murdered by an intimate partner in South Carolina over the last
three years.
Ashley Kaney’s name was on one of
those cards. The vibrant 26 year-old
and her eight-year-old daughter were
both strangled to death by Ashley’s
boyfriend.
Barbara Reese was 84 years old
when her husband of 55 years shot
and killed her.
Brenda Hurl thought she had escaped her husband’s violence when
she left him and received an order of
protection. But he ignored the order
and murdered Brenda.
Bryan Sweatt had been hiding at his
girlfriend’s parents’ house for hours
waiting for them to come home. He
shot and killed his 26-year-old girlfriend Chandra, and then killed her
father, mother, and two nephews.
Four wedding dresses were displayed at the My Sister’s Keeper event.
A card pinned to each named a woman or man who was murdered in South
Carolina by their intimate partner.
“The dresses illustrate the severity of domestic violence right here in South Carolina. They make it personal,” explains
Kristin Dubrowski, CODA’s Executive Director. “I’m still surprised when people don’t know that South Carolina ranks
first in the nation for the rate of women murdered by men.”
Events like My Sister’s Keeper, and CODA’s everyday efforts, raise our community’s understanding of the problem.
“We are lucky to have engaged supporters who work together to raise awareness. Our community has to say ‘no
more’ to domestic violence,” urges Kristin.
Thank You to My Sister’s Keeper SPEAK OUT Sponsors
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
The Bleu Companies
Peg and Ernie Schlichtemeier
Connie and Richard Dugan
Bob and Caren Ross
Boys Arnold
The Democratic Club of Beaufort County, South of the Broad
Diana Beecham Latteri - Sun and Moon Publishing & River Lady Artworks
Page 3
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Beaufort, SC
Permit No. 24
P.O. Box 1775
Beaufort, SC 29901
WWW.CODALOWCOUNTRY.ORG
843-770-1070 OR 800-868-CODA
Our Way of Saying Thank You
The best way to thank you for supporting CODA is to show you what you’ve made possible.
Last year, we watched Jane walk across the stage and graduate. She was finally a nurse.
We couldn’t have been more proud of her that day.
But my joy was almost overshadowed. I couldn’t stop thinking: what might have happened if
Jane had never walked through CODA’s door? Or what if we didn’t have donors like you to
help Jane?
Jane’s husband was fond of calling his wife a worthless whore. He spit on her. When he
drank, he was even more physically abusive. She was terrified - for herself and for her
seven-year-old daughter, Rosie.
Jane and Rosie lived at CODA’s shelter for a month. Thanks to your support, there was a
bedroom waiting for them.
Over the month, Jane gained confidence. Jane found a job, moved into CODA’s transitional
housing program and she and Rosie continued to receive counseling. Eventually, Jane was
confident enough to apply to nursing school.
The cycle of violence will end with Rosie.. Because of your support, she’s far less likely to
end up in an abusive relationship herself. With her mom as a powerful role model, her life is
full of potential.
There’s a direct link between your support of CODA and their bright future. Thank you
for responding to their cries for help, before it was too late for them both.
Thanks to your support, a
safe haven is available for
women and children who
are forced to flee from
their abuser.