United Way Gives $39,000 Grant to Support the Shelter

 

United Way of Greater New Haven has awarded Domestic Violence Services (DVS) of Greater New Haven $39,000 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year that begins July 1. The funds will support DVS’s emergency shelter for abused women and children.

 

“At a time when public funds are dwindling,” said Sandra Koorejian, DVS’s executive director, “the support of the United Way – and its donors – is critically important to the safety of scores of women and children.”

 

Among the services that the United Way funding will enable the shelter to provide include casework (ranging from employment prospects to insurance), advocacy, crisis intervention, information and referral, and counseling with a focus on safety planning.

 

About United Way

United Way brings together the caring power of our community to create measurable, sustainable change and to improve lives.  Together with community partners, United Way identifies our region’s greatest needs and best opportunities for change; raises dollars and invest those dollars for results and connects people to their caring through volunteer opportunities. 

 

More information about United Way of Greater New Haven’s community leadership and how you can help can be found at www.uwgnh.org.  

 

 

 

Friend of DVS Honored For Her Contributions

 

Donna Violante, who served on the DVS board from 1996 to 2007, was named one of 30 leaders who made a difference in the lives of survivors of domestic violence during the 30 years since the creation of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV).  The honorees were introduced at CCADV’s annual meeting June 18, 2008.

 

Violante served as the DVS board president and chaired walkathons for ten years, raising tens of thousands of dollars for the agency.  Now retired, Violante was a manager with AT&T (formerly SNET and SBC) and organized company groups and company management to support the walkathons and other DVS fund-raising efforts.

 

Donna Violante remains strongly committed to DVS’s mission and firm in the belief that that women can do anything.

 

Adult Advocate, Bilingual English/Spanish

Job description: Provide counseling and casework services to women in the battered women’s shelter. Offer crisis intervention and information/referral via the hotline. Supportive work environment. Full-time.  Competitive pay/excellent benefits.

Job requirements: Minimum of bachelor’s degree in human services field and one year of relevant experience required, preferably in a residential setting, including crisis intervention and counseling. Must have strong knowledge of community resources. Must have valid CT driver’s license and car. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team. DVS will provide mandatory battered women’s counselor certification training. MUST BE BILINGUAL.

To apply send your resume and cover letter to DVSGNH, PO Box 1329, New Haven, CT 06505, fax to 203.562.9450, or e-mail to skoorejian@dvsgnh.org. NO PHONE CALLS.

Caroline (Carol) M. Pompano Joins the Board

 

 

Carol Pompano, community relations manager of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, has been elected to the now 17-member board of directors of DVS.

 

Pompano has more than two decades of experience in community, public and media relations; special events planning and execution; and internal and external communications. Prior to joining Anthem in 1996, she worked in public relations for the Hospital of Saint Raphael, Saint Mary’s High School, and the American Red Cross – all in New Haven. Pompano holds a BS in psychology from the University of Bridgeport, MA in communications from Fairfield University, and MS in health care administration from the University of New Haven.

Sgt. Lisa Dadio Honored for Her Services

On Thursday morning, September 27, 2007 the Greater New Haven Domestic Violence Task Force, of which DVS is a founding member, honored Sgt. Lisa Dadio of the New Haven Police Department for her years of dedicated service to the Department, the Task Force, and the community. 

 

Job Corps members (l to r) Eddie Cardoza, Cory Batiste, and Ashley Dubose with their instructor, James Bailey. 

The Task Force’s new Silent Witness exhibit of figures was unveiled. Each plywood figure – a man, a boy, a girl, a young woman and an elderly woman – represents domestic violence homicide victims in 2004 – a total of 26 individuals.  The exhibit was produced by students at New Haven Job Corps, three of whom attended the meeting at New Haven’s City Hall and briefly discussed how much the project meant to and affected them.  

Community Activist Alice Hummel Joins the DVS Board

Storied philanthropist, community leader, and entrepreneur Alice Hummel has joined the board of directors of Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven. In addition to her other accomplishments, Hummel has served on numerous boards, often for many years. These include the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Friends of Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, Visiting Nurses of South Central Connecticut, and the Neighborhood Music School. Educated at Boston University, the University of New Haven and Yale’s Special Student Program, Hummel was licensed with the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, and the Connecticut State Banking Commission. She is also a competitive Bridge player. Hummel lives in Cheshire, CT. 

 

Michael Bolton and his choir sang for DVS

The week of December 17, 2007 New Haven’s own Michael Bolton and a choir of 20 singers he selected from Greater New Haven competed on NBC’s live “Clash of the Choirs.” Each celebritity singer performed for a hometown charity and Bolton selected DVS was a beneficiery of the events. Bolton, through his Michael Bolton Charities, has long been a supporter of DVS — and other domestic violence programs throughout the country.