Verizon Wireless Agrees To Co-Sponsor Race!

Yesterday Verizon Wireless agreed to become a co-sponsor of the Race To Prevent Family Violence! They are interested in partnering with us on all of our races as we expand nationwide! Their public relations manager confirmed the sponsorship over the phone and via email. Verizon has become very involved with initiatives to stop family violence. Getting involved with good causes has definitely improved their sales and raised their bottom line. Their check won't reach us for a month or two, so we still could use a few more cash sponsors. I'm speaking with several more good possibilities today!

Denton Co. Women's Shelter Happy About Race

Had a great conversation yesterday with Melissa Smith at Denton County's Friends of the Family women's shelter. She said they are very happy about the "Race To Prevent Family Violence" 5K race/family fitness walk series and would like to help because they see the benefits from joining together on occasion with other organizations also combatting family violence! That's a pleasant suprize because most shelters seem to be very territorial and operate quite independently from each other. She definitely sees the bigger picture, however. She's going to provide Race publicity, volunteers and 143 "Silent Witnesses" - which are lifesize figures representative of the 143 women killed last year in TX from family violence crimes. She's also going to encourage other shelters to get involved when she meets with them yet this week. I really appreciate her enthusaism and support for what we're trying to do, which will soon increase awareness about their agency when we provide online and media campaign publicity for and about them.

Organizing A Rockwall Co. FV Task Force

Last week I again conducted the second monthly meeting of the new Rockwall County family violence task force. Roxana was also able to attend. This is an effort which we organized and are spearheading after learning that no meetings were currently being held locally to coordinate efforts to stop and prevent family violence in our own backyard. Sixteen public officials, social service professionals and citizens met jointly and heard guest speaker Tonia Cunningham, victim assistance counselor with the Frisco PD. I invited her because she is a leader of the Collin Co. Council On FV which we joined in June. She offered us suggestions and tips about how and why we should meet regularly to better coordinate our efforts as they do in Collin Co. which is just North of our community.

What we've thus far learned is that meetings are being currently held to address better supporting victims of child abuse and sexual assaults, but little is being done to support victims of physical assaults or teen dating violence in the schools. Neither are there any efforts ongoing to PREVENT family violence - in schools, jails or other places that anyone knew of. Everyone agreed we should expand the task force by inviting representatives from the schools, churches and other organizations in order to expand prevention efforts.

Last month fifteen people attended our first meeting and unanimously agreed that we should meet monthly through at least the end of the year to better coodinate efforts to help all victims as well as abusers of all forms of family violence - including physical and sexual assaults, child abuse/neglect/maltreatment, teen dating violence and elder abuse.

The task force currently includes law enforcement officers from the County Sheriff's dept. and each city's police dept., the County DA's office, CPS, Lake Pointe Medical Center, Women In Need women's shelter and NE TX Crisis Center - both based in Greenville, Helping Hands relief agency, plus the Soroptimist Women's Club.

Anyone interested in attending is welcome. Just contact me.

Dallas Domestic Violence Task Force Meeting

Last week I attended the City of Dallas' Domestic Violence Task Force meeting directed by Dallas City Council Member Dr. Elbe Garcia at the Dallas Police Department's headquarters. About 40 people attended to hear statistical reports and announce upcoming events. Dr. Garcia warmly welcomed me before the group and invited me to explain more about our new organization. Our board member Elsa Chavez was there, as well, representing her employer, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. I had the pleasure of meeting long-time community activist Minnie Caruth, who told me her that her best friend was murdered years ago in a family violence incident. Minnie congratulated us and offered several ideas for additional funding sources which I'm following up on.

Slogan Needed To Help Stop Sexual Assaults...

A slogan is needed for use in campaigns against sexual assaults. Have any good ideas? We'd like to create one which non-profit and government agencies nationwide can and will use in their awareness campaigns, as well as our's. I had the idea to place a call for slogan entries nationwide over the Internet, since so many people seem to enjoy being creative on such websites as You Tube and My Space. Contact me if you have any good ideas!

Dallas County Sexual Assault Coalition Meeting

Last week I was warmly welcomed to the Dallas County Sexual Assault Coalition's meeting, where I was able to introduce myself, describe our Foundation's mission and give details about our upcoming "Race To Prevent Family Violence."

Although the group surprisingly only numbered about 10 people, there are at least 20 well-known member organizations. I learned much and met yet another survivor of family violence, who works at Methodist Hospital in Dallas. I invited her to join with us to speak publicly, but she wasn't sure she wanted to do so at this time

The Coalition's leader, Kristianne Hinkamp, asked me if we could create a slogan which could be used in awareness efforts to help stop sexual assaults. Sounded like a great project which I have since discussed with our creative marketing guru, board member Al Johnson.

The Race Is On To Prevent Family Violence!

The first annual 2006 Frisco/Collin County "Race To Prevent Family Violence" is scheduled Saturday, Oct. 7th, 8-11 am, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, at the Dallas North Tollway and Main St. About 1,000 participants are expected to run and walk to raise money for Lillian Smith Foundation media and online campaigns to stop and prevent family violence. Local sponsors are The "FC Dallas" (pro soccer) Foundation, Baylor Rehabilitation System, Texans Credit Union, CBS Radio stations and more expected. Put on your running shoes and join us. For info, please see www.lilliansmith.org.