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Shelter House announces details for annual fundraiser, Purses With A Purpose

Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (February 8, 2016) – Shelter House Domestic & Sexual Violence Center will host their sixth annual Purses With a Purpose event March 11-12, 2016, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in the 560 building, corner storefront, next door to Altar’d State.

Festivities begin Friday at 6:00 p.m. with an exciting silent auction featuring over 100 purses, including brands like Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Vera Bradley, as well as sunglasses and other accessories. Attendees will also enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Travinia, wine, an interactive photobooth by 5 Star Photobooth, DJ services by Shane Keller of Rock the House and a fashion show featuring hair and makeup services by Pin Up Girls Hair Studio & Spa in Destin. Avid purse shoppers can purchase a VIP ticket to enter the event 30 minutes early (5:30 p.m.) for an exclusive preview of the silent auction and the opportunity to immediately purchase their handbag or accessory of choice before the event officially begins.

Tickets are now available on the Shelter House website, www.shelterhousenwfl.org. General admission tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 or at the door for $15. VIP tickets are $20 when purchased in advance, or $25 at the door, based on availability.

The fundraiser continues Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with free admission to view the remaining handbags and accessories, with discounts up to 50% off. Attendees will enjoy complimentary mimosas and fresh baked muffins.

To date, Shelter House has raised more than $50,000 through Purses With A Purpose. Shelter House is actively seeking sponsors and new or gently used handbags and accessories for the silent auction. Individuals or businesses interested should contact Whitney Lee Ladwig at 850-974-2002 or whitneyleeladwig@icloud.com.

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Shelter House Receives Economic Empowerment Grant

Allstate Foundation supports financial education for survivors and community

(FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.) January 31, 2016 – The Allstate Foundation recently awarded Shelter House a grant for $30,625 to continue its economic empowerment program. Shelter House first received this grant in 2009, and has since earned recognition and offered training to other domestic violence centers on its innovative programs.

“Financial abuse and domestic violence often go hand in hand,” said Rosalyn Iovieno, Executive Director of Shelter House. “Learning about financial tools and strategies empowers survivors to establish new lives with safety plans for themselves and their money.”

Tactics that abusers use to exert control include restricting the victim’s access to money, ruining the victim’s credit, forbidding her to work or even harassing her on the job causing a spotty work history. Shelter House advocates in the WAM! (Women and Money) program work with survivors on budgeting, building savings, repairing credit scores and more through the economic empowerment courses. Shelter House also works with the children of abuse survivors so they learn early in life how to handle their own finances.

While the programs for domestic violence victims are a major focus, Shelter House offers workshops that are free and open to the public as well. The agency will hold public workshops on April 4 and June 25. For more information, call 850-243-1201.

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White-Wilson Community Foundation Supports Shelter House

Funding will expand sexual violence services

(FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.) January 12, 2016 – White-Wilson Community Foundation recently awarded Shelter House a grant for $22,542 to expand the agency’s sexual violence services. Shelter House currently provides services including a 24/7 rape crisis hotline, peer counseling and victim accompaniment during medical exams and law enforcement interviews.

The White-Wilson Community Foundation grant enables Shelter House to create an on-site sexual assault forensic exam room at the agency’s program office in Fort Walton Beach. The funds will also be used to establish a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program in Okaloosa and Walton counties with plans to train and certify five local nurses in the first year.

“Currently, sexual assault victims sometimes wait up to six hours for an exam in an emergency room,” explained Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno. “This generous gift from White-Wilson Community Foundation means survivors can come to our office, a safe space away from the chaos of the ER, and meet with an advocate, have a forensic exam by a certified SANE nurse and meet with law enforcement. The goal of this approach is to provide victim-centered, trauma-informed care.”

The exam room project includes the renovation of a bathroom with a shower and wash station as well as purchasing an exam table, camera, medical lighting and other exam equipment and medical supplies.

The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence designated Shelter House as the certified sexual violence center for Okaloosa and Walton counties in 2014. In less than two years, Shelter House has fielded almost 300 sexual assault hotline calls, counseled more than 150 rape and sexual assault survivors and activated the Rape Response Team (RRT) to local hospitals more than 100 times.

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All American Jeep Show Raises Money for Shelter House

Hundreds of Jeep enthusiasts turned out to support domestic and sexual violence victims

(CRESTVIEW, Fla.) November 18, 2015 – More than 500 Jeep enthusiasts turned out recently to the 2nd Annual All American Jeep Show at Old Spanish Trail Park in Crestview to show off their vehicles and raise money for Shelter House. The weekend-long event brought in $12,514 to support domestic and sexual violence victims in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

“I’m overwhelmed by all of the support from the Jeep community and the generosity of our local and national sponsors,” said event organizer Jeff Bullard, President of the All American Jeep Club.

“The funds they raised at this event will allow Shelter House to serve more women, children and men right here in our local community who are recovering from domestic and sexual violence,” said Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno.

Jeep show attendees were treated to a broad range of Jeeps on display, awards, a silent auction, Jeep poker run, bounce houses and a demonstration by the Crestview Fire Department.

Thank you to the presenting sponsors of the 2nd Annual All American Jeep Show: All American Jeep Club, Tattoos Forever, Lee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Summerlin Truck Outfitter and Elite Jeeps, Inc.

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Shelter House to Host 5th Annual Luminaria Run

Twilight race encourages runners to glow

(DESTIN, Fla.) November 17, 2015 – Shelter House will host a unique twilight run designed to shine the light on abuse in our community. The 5th Annual Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, presented by Verizon Wireless and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., will take place on Saturday, December 5 at 4:30pm. Runners will start at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Destin and follow a course lined with more than 2,000 luminarias lighting their path.

The race includes 5k and 9k courses winding throughout the Indian Bayou neighborhood. The 9k distance represents that a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds in the U.S., and the luminarias symbolize how Shelter House and their community partners light the way to a safer place for victims of abuse.

“This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Luminaria Run,” said Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno. “It is encouraging to see support for the run grow each year as the community joins together to raise awareness of domestic and sexual abuse. All proceeds from the race go to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence right here in Okaloosa and Walton counties.”

Children are encouraged to participate in the run, and walkers are welcome. This family-friendly event will have a “sweet finish” at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. featuring confections, s’mores, hot cocoa and more as well as Bubba Gump’s famous gumbo.

This is a twilight race starting at 4:30pm. Runners are encouraged to wear reflective gear, and a prize will be awarded for the best lit runner. Glow packs are available for purchase during online registration and the day of the run.

Registration is open now with the following prices: adults, 5k – $30; 9k – $45. Children ages 3 through 12 are $10 for the 5k and $15 for the 9k.

Packet pick up begins on Friday, December 4 at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Destin from 5pm to 7pm. On-site registration and packet pick up will be open on race day from 2pm to 4pm at Bubba Gump.

Luminary bags will be labeled and placed along the course in honor or in memory of loved ones. Bags are available through a $10 donation to Shelter House and can be purchased at the Shelter House office in Fort Walton Beach or on-site the day of the race.

Shelter House would like to thank this year’s run sponsors: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Verizon Wireless, Destin Commons, SoWal.com and Sandprints Photography. Additional sponsorships are available.

To register, please go to www.shelterhousenwfl.org. For more information on the race, sponsorships or luminary bags, call Shelter House at 850-243-1201.

Last year’s Luminaria Run drew more than 360 runners and raised over $20,000 to help keep abused women, children and men in the local community safe.

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Walk 4 Respect Attendees Pledge to End Violence

Youth vow to stand up for respect and kindness

(DESTIN, Fla.) November 10, 2015 – More than 100 people turned out for the 2nd Annual Walk 4 Respect at Morgan Sports Center in Destin on Halloween morning. The walk brought together youth from Okaloosa and Walton counties during National Bullying Prevention Month to talk and learn about healthy, non-violent relationships and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

The event kicked off with a proclamation by Destin Mayor Mel Ponder. The proclamation read in part, “Let this Walk 4 Respect be the start of a unified commitment to the education and prevention of violence within our community, and to recognize the need for raising awareness of the prevalence of abuse affecting our youth.”

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley challenged the crowd by asking, “If kindness was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” He then presented a check for $1,500 from the Sheriff Star Charity to Shelter House, the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties. Shelter House, along with Project Respect, produced Walk 4 Respect with additional support from Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.

Ponder and Ashley led off the walk. At the conclusion of the one-mile walk, everyone stopped off to sign an anti-violence pledge wall then enjoyed a free fall festival. Adults and youth alike enjoyed music from Horizon Entertainment and sampled tasty food from three food trucks. Bogarbecue, Cajun Meat Train and Rainbow Frost ice cream truck all turned out to show their support for the anti-violence movement.

“The community support for this event has been outstanding,” said Rosalyn Iovieno, Shelter House Executive Director. “Young people right here in our community are dealing with teen dating violence, bullying and cyberbullying. It is important to show them that there is help and that it is good to talk about it with friends or a trusted adult.”

Several community agencies had booths with information and festival games. Partners in attendance included COPE Center, Boys and Girls Club, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Junior League of the Emerald Coast and Shelter House.

Youth and parents lined up to sign the pledge to stop violence.