A new program, MBF Teen Safety Matters™, was recently launched by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children to prevent child abuse and bullying among teen-agers.
Credit Union Foundation Recognizes Sexual Assault is Growing Concern in Our Community; Supports The Women’s Center of Jacksonville’s Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Center
Community First Cares Foundation makes one of the largest single donations in its history to help survivors of sexual assault
Jacksonville, Fla. – (July 11, 2018) — The Women’s Center of Jacksonville is honored to accept a donation of $15,000 to counsel survivors of sexual assault through the organization’s new Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Center on Emerson Street. The donation from Community First Cares Foundation to our SAFE Community Initiative is the first from a banking institution and shows Community First’s commitment to Northeast Florida survivors of sexual assault.
“We are grateful that Community First Cares Foundation has recognized the importance of counseling for sexual assault survivors in Northeast Florida,” said Teresa Miles, executive director of Women’s Center of Jacksonville. “Counseling services are incredibly important to survivors of sexual assault and we are very appreciative the Community First Cares Foundation understands that this support is an essential part of healing for survivors of sexual assault.”
The $15,000 donation is restricted for use for counseling of sexual assault survivors only.
The Women’s Center of Jacksonville opened the new Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Center in April at 5300 Emerson St. in Jacksonville to help the growing numbers of sexual assault survivors reporting their assaults.
“It is astonishing to learn how many people in Northeast Florida are affected by sexual assault,” said Roger Rassman, chair of the board of the Community First Cares Foundation. “At Community First, we are committed to the Northeast Florida area, and helping survivors of sexual assault heal is vital to the health and welfare of our community.”
Survivors of sexual assault can call The Women’s Center of Jacksonville at 904.722.3000 to learn about counseling services or can call the 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline at 904.721.7273 for information regarding sexual assault forensic exams.
“We could not help so many sexual assault survivors in Northeast Florida without the support of our community partners,” said Miles. “We are thankful for organizations like the Community First Cares Foundation that understand the importance of counseling services for survivors to help them heal after a sexual assault.”
About Women’s Center of Jacksonville
The Women’s Center of Jacksonville is a nonprofit, Jacksonville-based organization offering advocacy, support and education to women in Northeast Florida. The Women's Center of Jacksonville is the only certified rape crisis center for Duval, Baker and Nassau Counties, and rape recovery services are available to individuals of all genders and their families. The Women’s Center of Jacksonville offers no cost or affordable mental health counseling; adult and family literacy; breast cancer support and education; and information and referral assistance. To learn more about The Women’s Center of Jacksonville, visit womenscenterofjax.org.
About Community First Cares Foundation
The Community First Cares Foundation, founded by Community First Credit Union, is a non-profit community foundation that grants funds to improve the quality of life in North Florida. The foundation supports activities to improve financial literacy, enhance the quality of our educational system, upgrade the health and welfare of our community and help underserved citizens. The Community First Cares Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit organizations that serve the communities on the First Coast. For more information, visit www.CommunityFirstCares.org or call 904-371-8090.
Media Contact:
Michelle Guglielmo Gilliam
Point Taken Communications
Poverty is a silent epidemic in our schools, and many issues with attendance and academics are directly related to students not having clean clothes, shoes that fit, or the supplies they need to be successful in school. Students want to feel good about themselves when they come to school, and we want to help them have everything they need to learn. We could not have opened our first on-site classroom-sized Giving Closet without this funding and volunteer support.
Jennifer Smith, DCPS teacher and Founder of The Giving Closet Project.