Annual golf outing benefits A Safe Place's domestic violence programs in Lake County
Domestic violence is everywhere, many times hidden in the shadows.
According to the A Safe Place website, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
One in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence each year. Witnessing such violence tends to continue the trend.
But A Safe Place, with offices in Lake County, has programs and shelters to educate, mentor and keep safe victims of domestic violence.
To make sure these programs thrive, the organization is hosting its 19th annual "Drive Out Domestic Violence" Golf Outing Monday, Aug. 16, at Briarwood Country Club, 355 Deerfield Road, Deerfield. Various sponsorships are available.
To find out more, or to register for the event, visit asafeplaceforhelp.org/get-involved/golf-outing/.
Damaris Lorta, chief development officer, for A Safe Place shares more about the organization and its upcoming event.
Q: What is A Safe Place? Give a brief overview of what the organization does and who you serve.
A: For nearly 43 years, A Safe Place has provided services to victims of domestic abuse and their families as the sole provider exclusively addressing domestic violence in Lake County.
Guided by the mission of being the leading advocate for eliminating domestic violence in northern Illinois, A Safe Place offers comprehensive services that provide a safety net to assist victims and their children, and reduce the likelihood that they will need to return to a violent environment.
Services are designed to meet the immediate crisis and long term needs of domestic violence victims and their children, and to prevent future violence.
Q: Where do the majority of your donations come from?
A: A majority of our funding comes from local government, federal, state, fundraisers such as our golf outing and private donors.
Q: How many people per year do you serve?
A: During our FY20 we served more than 32,000 individuals
Q: What are some of your programs?
A: The continuum of services provided for victims of domestic violence includes a 24-hour crisis line, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, individual and group counseling and therapy, art therapy, assistance with orders of protection, safe custody exchanges, supervised child visitations, advocacy, education, outreach and supportive services.
To prevent future violence, A Safe Place offers community education and outreach, a mentoring program for adolescent boys to prevent violence from continuing in the next generation, and an intervention program for perpetrators of abuse, teaching them accountability and helping them to examine and change their abusive behaviors over the course of a six-month program.
Q: Tell us about the annual "Drive Out Domestic Violence" Golf Outing.
A: Enjoy a beautiful August day at Briarwood, a private country club on the North Shore, while helping to drive out domestic violence in Chicago and the Chicagoland area. While we are excited to host everyone again this year, precautions will be taken and space is limited, so register now before tickets sell out!
Event components will include:
• Delicious barbecue lunch on the outdoor Country Club patio at 11 a.m.;
• Shotgun start beginning at 12:30 p.m.;
• A little healthy competition among golfers, including longest drive, longest putt, closest to the pin and more;
• Silent auction, 50/50, Mulligans and more;
• Prizes will be awarded when the event culminates at Cocktail Hour, approximately 5:30 p.m.
Q: How can people participate?
A: Sign up to golf or sponsor our event by visiting asafeplaceforhelp.org/get-involved/golf-outing/.
Q: How can readers help if they can't participate in the event?
A: If you can't participate, you can still help. Donate on our webpage, asafeplaceforhelp.org, or call us to find out ways to get involved, (847) 731-7165.
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'Drive Out Domestic Violence' Golf Outing
What: Benefits A Safe Place in Lake County, which offers domestic violence programs.
When: 11 a.m. brunch, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, 5:30 cocktail hour on Monday Aug. 16
Where: Briarwood Country Club, 355 Deerfield Road, Deerfield
Cost: Various sponsorships and individual prices available; visit asafeplaceforhelp.org/get-involved/golf-outing/