MCFJC Benefit Funds Raised Will Combat Domestic Abuse in Montgomery County

September 19, 2016: A benefit to raise funds to support the Montgomery County Family Justice Center will be held on Sunday, October 30th from 5:00-8:30 pm at the Rockville Hilton, 1750 Rockville Pike. "Our Foundation's Annual Benefit raises funds that provides for additional opportunities to help survivors of domestic abuse become safe and secure and better able to sustain a healthy life without fear of abuse," said Thomas M. DeGonia II, Chair of the Foundation Board. Montgomery County First Lady Catherine Leggett is Chair of the benefit. Channel 9 anchor Mike Hydeck is the emcee of the reception.

The Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation was established in 2009 as a nonprofit to support the work of the Montgomery County Family Justice Center in its efforts to help strengthen the lives of families affected by domestic violence and relationship abuse. It is the County’s one-stop for victims of domestic violence. Over 7,500 individuals have been served since its inception.

"The 7th Annual Benefit for the MCFJC Foundation will be a fun-filled and poignant evening highlighting our outstanding honorees and raising critical funds for the life-saving work of the Family Justice Center," stated Executive Director Resa Levy.

DeGonia and Levy announced the first sponsors to the Benefit. They are:

William E. Cross Family Foundation

William J. Shaw Family Foundation

Rismiller Law Group LLC

The Many Friends and Family of Karina

Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

GEICO Philanthropic Foundation

Ethridge, Quinn, Kemp, McAuliffe, Rowan & Hartinger

Fait and Di Lima LLP

Fitzgerald Auto Malls

Catherine and Ike Leggett

Pepco, an Excelon Company

Stein Sperling Bennett DeJong Driscoll LLP

aa’ila Foundation

Cheryl and Michael Kravitz

The Lierman Family

Montgomery College

Santos, Postal and Company l

Carol Trawick

Victims’ Rights Foundation

Through support of the Benefit and other ways:

· More than 1,000 middle and high school students have attended the Choose Respect Conferences to combat teen dating abuse and domestic violence and promote healthy relationships

· Hundreds of children have been helped through the Center’s Safe Start program.

· Pre-teens and teens have individualized psychological services in our “Teen Talk" program

· Dozens of children have participated in art therapy

· Working together with Montgomery College clients earned AA degrees and or learned specialized skills in the health administration field

· Clients took pre-exams to reinstate their nursing licenses

· Hundreds of clients received "emergency transportation" in our "Ride to Safety" program

The 2016 honorees are:

Community Partnership Award: Gabe Albornoz, Director, Montgomery County Department of Recreation

Outstanding Community Advocate Award: Cheryl Kravitz, President, CRK Communications

Inspiring Leader Award: Tom Manger, Chief of Police, Montgomery County, MD

Forerunner Award: Donna Rismiller, Esq., Founder and Principal, Rismiller Law

Marilyn J. Praisner Founders Award: MCFJC Victim Assistants

For more information and to purchase tickets: http://www.mcfjcfoundation.org/foundation-benefit.

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