Rising Above Domestic Abuse

A Bel Air organization that helps victims of sexual and domestic abuse hosted its first two-day hot-air balloon festival that included a sophisticated evening dinner for adults and a day-long roster of events for families.

The Labor Day weekend fundraiser, called Rising Above It, was held at the Harford Equestrian Center in Bel Air and benefitted "Safety, Awareness, Resources, Change," better known as SARC.

A crowd of 200 gathered for the Friday night festivities, called Balloon Glow Gala, to dine on drinks and a French style country dinner buffet featuring pate on a baguette, field greens with balsamic vinaigrette, Beef Bourguigon or Chicken Provencal and a gourmet desserts bar. The signature drink was Kir Royal, a mixture of Champagne and red, black currant liqueur

As the guests ate and drank on the pavilion's patio, 11 brightly patterned balloons inflated and illuminated an adjacent field.

Honorary Chairwoman Vi Ripken, Cal Ripken Jr.'s mother, said : "I was quite honored when [SARC Board of Directors member] Jeff Potter called to ask if I'd lend my name to the event."

Clearly, it worked. The fundraiser's organizers said they raised $23,000 through the sale of $100 tickets to dinner guests and through an auction for, among several items, a one-hour balloon ride, a week's stay at a donated private home in Myrtle Beach, and an original watercolor by local resident Lee Alban.

Media relations specialist Theresa Wiseman said the event received a lot of media attention.

"We've had great coverage by all the local TV stations.  We went down to Baltimore this morning and did an interview with Channel 45.  And Channel 2 is here," said Wiseman, who added that Channels 11 and 13 also picked up the story.

Diners were serenaded by the Amadeo, Hoyle, McCarthy, Czarkowski String Quartet and later danced to the retro sounds of The Epics.  

Proceeds from the event will aid SARC in providing resources to victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

"Our primary objective is to make this organization obsolete by changing society through heightened awareness and sensitivity," said Luisa Caiazzo-Nutter, SARC's executive director.

SARC helps its clients for free. Its services include providing shelter, emotional support, legal services and relocation. The group helps an average of 2,000 people per year, including about 100 rape victims. 

"No case is typical.  Anyone can be a victim," said Nutter, who added that the abuse is not always physical. "Some women are controlled financially.  Either they're not allowed to work, or they have a job and are forced to deposit the funds into an account which they can't access."

Its shelter has 28 beds and can accommodate women and children. A separate facility is available for men. The organization is open to all individuals who need help.

Counseling is available 24 hours a day at the shelter, where clients may stay for three months or more before transitioning to individual housing to become self-sufficient. The organization works with Harford Family House. This allows women with children to resume a more normal home life in an individual, apartment setting. 

 "It isn't healthy to have kids in a communal setting for an extended period of time," Nutter said.

The next day SARC hosted a Family Fun Day, which featured a long host of games and vendors for children and their parents.