The Safe Center raises $158K to support work for survivors at annual gala
The Safe Center, a Long Island-based victim services organization, closed out Domestic Violence Awareness Month by raising a record $158,000 to support its work on behalf of survivors in Nassau County.
The money was raised at the nonprofit’s Annual Gala on Thursday, Oct 24 at the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn.
The event gathered supporters, advocates, and community leaders to reflect on the progress made and to continue championing the fight against domestic violence and intimate partner violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and child abuse.
“Every year, more people come out to support the important work we do on behalf of some of our most vulnerable neighbors on Long Island,” said Bridget Mantello, director of development and external affairs at The Safe Center. “This year, as we mark The Safe Center’s 10th anniversary, we pay tribute to our expert staff, dedicated volunteers, community partners, and visionary leaders.”
The event featured a keynote by Alicia Santandreu, one of the first domestic violence survivors served by The Safe Center after its creation in 2014.
“I chose to be victorious over what happened to me, and I chose to dedicate myself to those in abuse, trying to leave, or navigating life outside of it,” said Santandreu, who came to The Safe Center 10 years ago when she was escaping an abusive relationship. Today, she is a proud mother of two and a local business owner. “You can do anything. I want you all to realize your infinite potential to achieve it all. Living in abuse is not life. Life and living truly begins outside of abuse and it is so beautiful.”
Since the nonprofit’s inception, more than 28,000 people have attended educational training seminars raising awareness on how to recognize, respond to and prevent future incidents of abuse. Just last year, the organization responded to 5,026 hotline calls and assisted 5,122 survivors impacted by domestic/intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and child sexual and severe physical abuse.
To learn more about The Safe Center, visit https://www.tscli.org.
