News release from the Northeast Indiana YWCA:
YWCA Northeast Indiana’s 17th Annual Circle of Women luncheon
(December 3, 2013) – This Thursday, December 5, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, YWCA Northeast Indiana will host its annual luncheon fundraiser to support its domestic violence services, including the Crisis Shelter for families fleeing violent households and community programs supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence. The event will take place at a new location – the Grand Wayne Center.
In its 17th year, this year’s event will focus on the effect that domestic violence has on children, featuring a panel of childhood survivors of such abuse, who grew up to become successful adults. This panel will include the following individuals:
- Patrick Ayelle is a successful medical technology executive based out of Atlanta, Georgia. As a child, he stayed at YWCA Northeast Indiana’s Crisis Shelter.
- Dan Nigro serves to protect women and children from domestic violence as a police officer in the Fort Wayne Police Department..
- Terry Ratliff is an acclaimed local artist. Just as he has done for this event, he regularly donates his art to support non-profits in the community.
These speakers will be available for interview following the event, as will YWCA Northeast Indiana’s President/CEO, Debby Beckman, and the 2013 Circle of Women Steering Committee Chair, Barb Phillips.
As previously mentioned, Terry Ratliff has donated an original painting for the event, which will be sold in a silent auction that day.
Nearly 700 people are expected to attend and reservations are no longer being accepted.
For more information on the event, please visit www.ywca.org/CircleofWomen.
About the YWCA
The YWCA is the voice for every woman. For over a century, the YWCA has spoken out and taken action on behalf of women and girls. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Over 2 million people participate each year in YWCA programs at more than 1,300 locations across the U.S. Worldwide, the YWCA serves more than 25 million women and girls in 125 countries.
Since 1894, YWCA Northeast Indiana, which serves Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Noble, Wells, and Whitley counties, has given voice to the concerns of women and provided services to meet the changing needs of women and their families. A nonprofit organization, the YWCA operates Indiana’s oldest domestic violence shelter, providing shelter and services to women, men and children escaping domestic violence. The organization receives support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other groups, and is a United Way Partner Agency in each county served.