DASH AT ST JOHN NEUMANN
Saint John Neumann High School Youth Ministry (AGAPE) & Health Ministry Special Presentation – “Dating Abuse Stops Here” – Sunday, February 10th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Saint John Neumann Chapel, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Agape & the Health Ministry will host a presentation by Lynne Russell, the founder of Dating Abuse Stops Here (DASH) about teen dating abuse and how to have a healthy relationship. All teens, parents, families and friends are invited to this presentation. Lynne will present the heartbreaking story of her daughter with the video “Siobhan’s Story” which describes how her daughter was killed by an abusive boyfriend. She will speak about how she missed the warning signs that Siobhan’s relationship was abusive and how DASH was created to educate teens about the dangers of teen dating abuse. Wendy Claunch of DASH will highlight the early warning signs, how to recognize when a relationship is abusive and how to have a healthy relationship. Don’t miss this important presentation for all teenaged children and their parents!
TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH 2013
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month! DASH is preparing! What are YOU going to do?
Wear your bracelet!!
Ask your school to host a DASH presentation during the month or anytime in the school year.
Invite a friend to join our cause, or our FB page.
Consider confidentially sharing your survivor/success story on our website to let others know that there is hope and a way out.
Donate your old cell phone at EmbriodMe-Herndon, 311 Spring St, Herndon, VA or ask them for a donation box to collect phones for DASH at your place of business.
Join us for Siobhan’s memorial walk on 10 February at Dulles Town Center Mall, VA!
Read the proclamation from the White House!
You CAN make a difference, and we need your help. Dating Abuse Stops Here!!!! Contact us at admin4dash@verizon.net for available presentation dates, brochures and bracelets to hand out at your school, campus or event.
DASH CELL PHONE DRIVE UNDERWAY
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention month. You can help support DASH by participating in our February Cell Phone Drive! We are collecting used cell phones to be recycled for which DASH will receive 100% of the proceeds. You’ll be helping the environment, too! If you received a new phone during the holidays, please consider donating your old one to us! Get your business involved, too, by setting up a donation box! Here’s how:
Starting January 14 until March 6 drop off your used cell phone (and charger!) at EmbroidMe, 311 Spring St., Herndon, VA, 20170, (703) 435-7773. Business hours M-F 9am-5pm.Pick up a cell phone donation box at EmbroidMe – Herndon to request donations at your place of business. Have your colleagues and friends drop their phones into the box!At the end of the drive drop off the sealed donation box at EmbroidMe Herndon and we’ll do the rest!
If you have any questions please contact DASH at admin4dash@verizon.net
Special thanks to our friends at EmbroidMe for their participation and support of DASH!
DASH AT SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH
Thank you to Shiloh Baptist Church (McLean, VA) and their Kingdom Pearls and Kingdom Gents Youth Ministry for hosting a DASH presentation. These teens were a terrific group who will certainly take Shev’s story to heart. After the presentation, the teens took a dating abuse quiz arranged by their Servant Leaders and passed with flying colors, reinforcing the importance of the DASH message! Thank you Natalie Bailey, Debbie Woodbury and Jerome Dixon for inviting us!
KNOCK OUT ABUSE GALA
Terry Barlow (connector extraordinaire) and Wendy Claunch were privileged to be the guests of Shak Hill and the Allstate Foundation at the 19th Annual Knock Out Abuse Gala. A fabulous event that brought over 700 women together to benefit victims of domestic violence, we were excited to share DASH with several inspiring women including co-founder, Jill Sorenson. Thank you, Shak for your support of DASH and for the invitation to a night we won’t forget!
Check out the great work that Knock Out Abuse www.knockoutabuse.org and the Allstate Foundation www.allstatefoundation.org both do to combat domestic violence.
DASH SAYS THANK YOU!
A sincere thank you to all our DASH bakers and volunteers who made our bake sale weekends a success! We couldn’t have done it without you and we appreciate your continued support.
DONUTS FOR DASH – AGAIN!
Once again, we’re hosting a Donuts for DASH event to raise awareness and funds for our work. Come visit us this Saturday, October 27, 2012 at the Franklin Farm Giant for a bake sale! Bring your appetite, talk to our teen ambassadors about DASH and help us combat teen dating abuse in our community.
When: October 27, 2012 11am-3pm
Where: Franklin Farm Giant, 13330 Franklin Farm Rd., Herndon, VA 20171
K-9 KRAWL 5K HIGHLIGHTS LINK TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The 6th annual K-9 Krawl 5k highlights the link between animal abuse and domestic violence. Bring your favorite K-9 companion to support the victims and pets of domestic violence. DASH is proud to be part of this terrific event and we’ll have a table, so come by to say hello!
When: Saturday, October 13, 2012, check-in 8:30am, walk 9am
Where: Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035 – parking lot C
Registration is not required to participate in this event. Participants are encouraged to arrive at 8:30 am to check in and browse the vendor tables that will be on display. During that time you will also have the opportunity to have a professional portrait taken of you and your pet. Additionally, there will be a FCPD K9 Unit demonstration at 8:45am; followed by the walk that will begin at 9 am.
For more information about this event and to register, go to:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/survey/k9krawl.htm
For additional information call 703-814-7009
Sponsored by the (FCPD) Victim Services Section and Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax County Law Enforcement Foundation.
BREAKFAST TO BENEFIT DASH
Support DASH as we commemorate Siobhan’s birthday month! We have several events lined up, so be sure to check back often!!
Please join us for a pancake breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus (Council 7566) of St. John Neumann Catholic Community! DASH will receive a portion of the proceeds raised. The parish Health Ministry is commemorating National Domestic Violence Awareness month this October. Special thanks to DASH angels Katherine Andersen and Terry Barlow for their help in organizing this fundraiser.
When: October 7, 2012 – after the 7:30am and 9:30am Masses (breakfast should begin at approximately 8:30am and 10:30am).
Where: St. John Neumann Catholic Community, 11900 Lawyers Rd., Reston, VA 20191
DASH AT FAIRFAX COUNTY NURTURING PROGRAM
Thank you, Fairfax County, VA, Department of Family Services Nurturing Program for inviting DASH to speak to the students about abusive relationships. Although it was a small group, these teens were touched by Shev’s story and were ready to take the early warning signs to heart. Many of the adults present took our brochures to distribute among their community contacts. Teen by teen, parent by parent the message is being spread: Dating Abuse Stops Here – it stops with me. Shev, your spirit is here working with us all.
DASH AT DELAWARE
A very special thank you to the freshmen of St. Georges Technical High School for making DASH an interstate organization! Wendy Claunch presented the DASH message on May 18, 2012 to six health classes at the school in Middletown, DE. This trip was particularly rewarding because Wendy was able to talk to the students in a more intimate classroom setting. The students were attentive and their teachers, Ms. Jessica Bloch, Mr. Mark Robinson and Ms. Bonnie Mills, helped guide them toward asking compelling questions. A special thank you to Maribeth Miller, Wendy’s sister-in-law, for bringing DASH to the attention of the school.
If you would like DASH to present at your school, please contact us at admin4dash@verizon.net.
DASH AT FAMOUS DAVE’S FUNDRAISER – APRIL 17, 2012
Thank you to the DASH friends who joined us for our fundraiser! We can’t do this without you! Kudos to Famous Dave’s Chantilly and its helpful staff for the great food and support of our cause!
Join us at Famous Dave’s for a fundraiser commemorating Siobhan’s 3rd Angelversary. Good food, good friends celebrating a life cut short by teen dating violence. Share this invitation with your friends to help Shev’s legacy!
When: April 17, 2012
5:00pm-9:00pm
Where: Famous Dave’s Barbeque
14452 Chantilly Crossing Lane
Chantilly, VA 20151
Please click on the link below to print the flyer and bring it with you. Present the flyer to your server with your receipt. DASH will receive 10% of the night’s proceeds.
DASH AT GIRLS’ RETREAT
DASH was invited by Lolita Allen to be a part of her annual girls’ retreat on February 18, 2012. The nine girls ranging in age from 13 to 15 were moved by Siobhan’s story. Lynne and Wendy were able to hold an engaging conversation with the girls who each took the DASH pledge – Dating Abuse Stops Here, it stops with me. I will not accept it, I will not perpetuate it and I will speak up if I see it happening. Thank you, girls, for your attention and pledge!
DASH AT DULLES 5K A ROUSING SUCCESS
We’d like to thank everyone who supported us during the DASH at Dulles 5k Mall Walk. Forty-five walkers came in from the cold and helped us raise over $600 for DASH. Special thanks to the Dulles Town Center, Dulles Dashers walking group and Dan Cook (Director of Retail Marketing) for their help in making our second annual walk a rousing success!
CHANTILLY SENIORS HEAR SIOBHAN’S STORY
In separate presentations, the senior boys and girls of Chantilly High School heard Lynne Russell tell the heart-breaking story of Siobhan with the video “Siobhan’s Story”. Following the video, Lynne spoke about how she missed the warning signs that Siobhan’s relationship was abusive and how DASH was created to educate teens about the dangers of teen dating abuse. Wendy Claunch followed by highlighting the early warning signs and how to recognize when a relationship is abusive. We are so happy that the class of 2012 was attentive to the DASH message.
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT FORUM
Teens, their parents and the community came together at McLean High School to learn about teen dating abuse and how to have a healthy relationship. The program began with “Remote Control” by Deana’s Educational Theater. This interactive performance piece gave the audience a look at how a friend might react to witnessing an abusive relationship as well as the early warning signs of teen dating abuse. Following the performance, DASH’s own Lynne Russell spoke about the loss of her daughter, Siobhan and how DASH was formed.
A community forum on healthy relationships was led by licensed social worker Mimi Weisberg and trauma surgeon Dr. Khaled Basiouny. Many audience members had compelling questions and stories to share about their own relationships. Ultimately, the evening was by turns entertaining, emotional and educational.
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES AT GMU
DASH would like to thank the superbly talented cast of George Mason University’s production of “The Vagina Monologues” for their fabulous performances of this intriguing show! We also extend our sincere appreciation to GMU’s Office of Sexual Assault Services and its director, Connie Kirkland, for sharing the box office proceeds with DASH.
WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL
The senior class of Woodson High School was riveted by the DVD of Siobhan’s Story when Wendy Claunch presented DASH on January 27th, 2012. A badly-timed fire alarm interrupted the session, forcing an abbreviated message. However, the students were receptive to the early warning signs of teen dating abuse and Wendy hopes to return to Woodson in the near future to give the students the full presentation.
MADISON HIGH SCHOOL
On December 9, 2011, Wendy Claunch (DASH) and Heather Sarmiento (Fairfax County Office for Women and Domestic & Sexual Violence) were invited to speak by Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia. Two separate presentations were made—one to the boys and one to the girls of the senior class, both groups, totaling 460 students watched Lynne and Andy Russell tell Siobhan’s story in a newly produced video. Wendy and Heather then spoke about the early warning signs of teen dating abuse as well as tips on how to help a friend who may be in an abusive relationship. Heather shared her experience being followed by her ex-boyfriend. She pointed out that other girls at her school were informing her ex about where she was and who she was with. Heather said, “If a friend asks you to check up or keep an eye on their boyfriend or girlfriend, you need to say no because you are participating in the abusive behavior.” Wendy closed the program by asking the students to take the DASH pledge: “Dating abuse stops here. It stops with me. I will not allow it. I will not perpetuate it and I will speak up if I see it happening.
THE MADEIRA SCHOOL
On January 4, 2012 Wendy Claunch of DASH and Heather Sarmiento of the Fairfax County Office for Women and Domestic and Sexual Violence, spoke to 83 young women of the sophomore class at The Madeira School. The school’s Director of Counseling, Tracie Epes, invited Heather to speak to the girls about sexual assault. Heather asked Wendy to join her to speak about teen dating abuse. The Madeira School is a private, girls’ day and boarding school with 300 students in McLean, VA.
The presentation began with the girls viewing Shev’s Story, a new recording of Lynne and Andy Russell telling the story of their daughter Siobhan’s abusive relationship. Wendy then spoke to the girls about the early warning signs of teen dating abuse. “Even if you aren’t in an abusive relationship, it’s important to know the signs so you can help yourself or someone else,” Wendy said. She later reviewed the signs that an abuser may become a lethal threat.
Heather spoke about sexual assault and emphasized that most sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. “We always talk about strangers following you in the parking lot or waiting in the bushes to jump out at you, but in reality they cause less the 3% of known sexual assaults,” said Heather. The young women seemed very receptive to both messages and were happy to accept a DASH bracelet to help raise awareness. The Madeira School will be participating (as will DASH) in a joint presentation with McLean High School in February.
NO FEAR IN LOVE RACE
Saturday, February 25, 2012 No Fear In Love Race to raise awareness about healthy dating relationships among 16-24 year olds. Proceeds to fund a scholarship for a dating abuse survivor to George Mason University. Race will be held at George Mason University Fairfax Campus. Doors open at 6 am, sunrise race and dedication at 6:45 am. For more information visit No Fear In Love Race.
GTSI DRESS DOWN FRIDAY
For the second year in a row, GTSI, VA employees chose DASH to benefit from it’s Dress Down Friday! On February 3, 2012, employees who gave a donation of $2 or more to DASH were allowed to wear jeans to work. Special thanks to Joe Uglialoro for spearheading this effort on behalf of DASH.