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Supporter Spotlight: Carol Tracy
Carol Tracy is the Executive Director of the Women's Law Project, a national organization that safeguards women's rights. Ms. Tracy has been involved with Women Against Abuse since the agency's inception over thirty years ago.
History with Women Against Abuse
In 1976, Ms. Tracy met a group of women operating a domestic violence hotline in a Germantown church basement. She remembers "they were flooded with calls, and the need for domestic violence services was so great.” So Ms. Tracy helped them secure a grant to open the first Women Against Abuse emergency shelter. Since then, she has stayed deeply involved with Women Against Abuse, having served on the Board of Directors and as Board President.
Why she stays involved
As Executive Director of the Women’s Law Project, Ms. Tracy says that domestic violence issues “permeate almost all of our work.” She has tackled insurance discrimination against battered women, as well as other legal barriers that make it difficult for people to leave abusive situations.
“I’m very proud to see how Women Against Abuse went from being a hotline in a basement to the multimillion dollar organization it is now." She adds, however, that there is still much work to be done in the struggle to end domestic violence.
Women Against Abuse Asserts New Advocacy Priorities
This spring, Women Against Abuse has been executing its tagline, “Advocacy in Action,” more than ever. With the recent creation of an Advocacy Committee, Women Against Abuse staff members, former clients and domestic violence survivors have increased outreach to key decision-makers in the community.
As elected officials in Harrisburg craft next year’s budget, staff members have met with several state legislators, urging them to prioritize funding for essential services like housing, health care, and legal aid.
Women Against Abuse representatives also testified at three Philadelphia City Council hearings this spring regarding the city’s budget for emergency housing and other supportive services.
Legislators need to hear from you too:
Join Women Against Abuse’s quest for adequate funding!
Children's Program Receives New Funding
Women Against Abuse is excited to receive $194,000 from The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Pew Fund for Health and Human Services to develop high quality out-of-school services for children in the emergency shelter.
This three-year grant will allow Women Against Abuse to hire a Children’s Services Manager to organize group activities, creative arts therapy, and academic assistance. Through a partnership with a local university, Women Against Abuse will also place graduate education students in the shelter for afterschool tutoring.
The program is designed to improve children’s academic performance and help them to avoid risky behaviors by increasing the amount of time mothers spend supporting their children with out-of-school academic responsibilities such as homework. Women Against Abuse aims to ensure that all children in the shelter receive the support they need to heal and lead promising futures.
Just Released: Women Against Abuse 2009 Annual Report
For an update on Women Against Abuse's services, volunteer stories, and to see the impact of your donations, look no farther than the 2009 Annual Report.
Thank you to our donors!
Thank you to everyone who donated to Women Against Abuse between January 1 - April 30.
List of donors
To make a donation, click here.
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