FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beth Fitzpatrick
203-334-6154 ext. 128 [email protected]
The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence Honors
7 Local Residents
Each Local Honoree Affiliated with The Center for Family Justice
Seven Fairfield County residents, volunteers and public servants – all committed to ending domestic violence – have been honored by the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence for their commitment and leadership in their ongoing effort to support victims.
The honorees were nominated by The Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport and feted at the fifth annual First 100 Plus Breakfast Nov. 6 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. The event to celebrated champions dedicate to combating domestic violence. This is the first year that women were included in the list of honorees.
The recipients were: Fairfield Police Detective Kerry Dalling; Armando Goncalves, President of People’s United Bank, Southern Connecticut; Robert Hojancki, Vice President and Director of Municipal and Not-for-Profit Banking of Stamford-based Patriot Bank; Dale Holder, Director of Grants and Program Administration at The Center; Monroe Police Detective Kelly McFarland; Bruce Silverstone, Vice President of Communications at Aquarion Water Company; Judy Stevens, Chair of The Center’s Board of Directors and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney in the Domestic Violence Unit at State Superior Court in Bridgeport.
“We are grateful for the work of The Center for Family Justice and the many partners they have in their local community working to improve the lives of victims and their children,” said Karen Jarmoc, president/CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “We applaud the positive impact these women and men have on victims and are honored to have them join the First 100 Plus.”
Debra A. Greenwood, president/CEO of The Center, said she was especially thrilled to celebrate this diverse array of community leaders and law enforcement officers recognized for their work in The Center’s service area of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. “Each of these individuals have been a strong, dynamic partner to our mission; providing us with their time, expertise and unwavering support,” she said. “We are delighted they are receiving the recognition they so richly deserve and consider each one a community leader in our constant efforts to break the cycle of domestic violence.”
More about the local honorees:
Judy Stevens: Senior Assistant State’s Attorney/Domestic Violence Unit
Westport resident Judy Stevens is the chair of The Center’s Board. She has spent more than 30 years prosecuting domestic violence cases. Stevens is credited with introducing the Family Justice Center concept to The Center’s senior management team and board. Because of her visionary thinking, The Center is now in the final stages of becoming the first FJC in Connecticut.
Fairfield Detective Kerry Dalling
Fairfield Police Detective Kerry Dalling is committed to providing trauma informed, specialized response to domestic violence victims in Fairfield. Dalling is a vital and committed partner to The Center and has worked closely with our advocates to provide domestic violence training to local law enforcement. She works every week at The Center’s Fairfield satellite office and is considered a true expert on domestic violence issues and a key player in the strong relationship that The Center has with local law enforcement.
Monroe Police Detective Kelly McFarland
Detective Kelly McFarland is the Monroe Police Department’s Domestic Violence Liaison to The Center, providing police training on domestic violence issues within her department. McFarland is a member of The Center’s by Law Enforcement Workgroup and has created youth groups in Monroe that foster healthy teen dating relationships. She will be one of the onsite officers at The Center once renovations are complete in 2016.
Armando Goncalves: President, People’s United Bank, South Connecticut
Armando Goncalves has been a longtime corporate partner to the Center, spearheading People’s United Bank’s role in The Center’s mission in a philanthropic, community-minded way. His efforts on The Center’s behalf included arranging for the bank to serve as Title Sponsor for our annual Speaking of Women luncheon.
Bruce Silverstone: Vice President of Communications, Aquarion Water Company
Silverstone is a member of the White Ribbon Campaign, which engages men in the effort to break the cycle of domestic violence. He has also been a strong philanthropic supporter of The Center’s mission, instrumental in securing a $30,000 grant The Center received from Aquarion.
Robert Hojancki: Vice President and Director of Municipal and Not-for-Profit Banking, Patriot National Bank
Hojancki, a member of the White Ribbon Campaign, was instrumental in securing the donation of an estimated $40,000 worth of gently used furniture to The Center. This furniture will outfit The Center’s new offices as it completes its transformation
Dale Holder: Director of Grants and Program Administration, The Center for Family Justice
Holder, a Bridgeport resident, was a friend and supporter of The Center before he joined its administrative team as Director of Grants and Program Administration earlier this year. As a longtime Youth Director of The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, Holder was a founding committee member of the White Ribbon Campaign
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR FAMILY JUSTICE
The Center for Family Justice Inc. (formerly The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County Inc.), brings all domestic, sexual and child abuse services – crisis intervention, police, prosecutors, civil/legal providers, counseling – under one roof, in our headquarters in Bridgeport, CT. Together, we work to break the cycle of violence by helping those in crisis restore their lives. Although our name has changed, we continue with the work we have provided for 12 decades, providing free, confidential, bilingual crisis services in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. It is the comprehensive services our partners are providing that are streamlining the road to healing and self-sufficiency.
Within the past year, The Center answered more than 950 calls on a 24-hour crisis hotline; assisted with the civil and criminal court processes for more than 2,500 survivors of domestic violence; responded to more than 500 survivors of sexual assault and their families; provided a safe home for more than 100 women and children fleeing domestic abuse; coordinated the investigations of more than 170 cases of child sexual and severe physical abuse, developing service plans for the young survivors and their families; and provided psycho-educational support to more than 1,200 survivors of domestic violence, planning for their safety and promoting self-sufficiency.
As part of our mission, The Center educates approximately 4,000 members of the community about the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse to prevent future violence and spread the word that about the services we offer at The Center for Family Justice. Annually, we teach more than 2,000 children and teens about building healthy relationships, bullying prevention and dating violence.
For more information, visit www.CenterForFamilyJustice.org.
