Grant from Bay Area Community Foundation supports agency awareness
The Bay Area Women’s Center (BAWC) has received a grant totaling $1,236 with support from the Civic League of Bay County Advisory Endowment Fund and the Youth Advisory Endowment Fund both held at the Bay Area Community Foundation (BACF). This grant will support educational and awareness efforts undertaken by BAWC this summer through various community events as well as during the upcoming school year.
Statistically, one in four people will be impacted by domestic violence in their lifetime. If someone has not personally experienced domestic violence, chances are they know someone who has. The Bay Area Women’s Center’s mission is to not only support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as they secure safety and live life beyond trauma, but also to create a social change. To that end, BAWC seeks educational, outreach, and awareness opportunities to challenge stereotypes, start discussions, and engage the community.
BAWC regularly attends community events to engage with the public and spread awareness about the free-of-charge services available.
Awareness events allow BAWC to network with service providers across Bay and Arenac counties while also reaching a large and diverse range of the community. Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault come from all backgrounds and identities, and it is crucial to reach as much of the local population as possible.
This grant awarded from the Bay Area Community Foundation’s spring Community Partnership Grant Cycle with enable BAWC to create educational coloring book packets to share with children at community events. Coloring books are a great learning tool that provide entertainment, but also help to facilitate a conversation between child and parent.
The BAWC coloring book discusses the topic of bodily autonomy including a child’s right to say no when something makes them uncomfortable. Education of this manner can truly affect change in the rates of domestic and sexual violence and work to address the generational victimization that often perpetuates these crimes.
The Bay Area Community Foundation awards grants twice per year to local nonprofits and 501(c)(3) organizations in Bay and Arenac Counties. The Foundation’s mission is to fulfill a wide array of donors’ charitable wishes by building permanent endowment funds and serving as a leader for community improvement through effective grantmaking and collaboration.
The Bay Area Women’s Center provides free-of-charge crisis intervention, advocacy and safe haven to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; and violence prevention education to the community; while actively pursuing social change. Our 24 hour hotline is operated by workers who are trained to provide confidential, non-judgmental, empowering options and support. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please contact Bay Area Women’s Center at (989) 686-4551 or (800) 834-2098.
