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Bowl a Strike Against Domestic Violence

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Register for BHcare's Bowl-2-Benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services! Lanes are filling fast!

BHcare's Bowl-2-Benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services March 3, 2019 Bowlero, Milford, CT Why should you participate? Strike out domestic violence! All proceeds benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services (UCDVS). UCDVS provides services and programs to over 6,000 victims & their children each year. Fun for everyone! 90 minutes of bowling Event giveaway Shoe rental Soft drink Prizes! The highest fundraising team per session will receive a special prize! Collect pledges from your friends, family & peers. Raffles! Each session will feature a variety of fun raffle items! Raffle tickets can be purchased during each session & winners will be chosen at the end of the session. Register now! Click here to register your team and start  fundraising today! ‌ ‌

BHcare | 435 East Main Street, Ansonia, CT 06401

Winter Coat & Glove Drive

HGTV Star to Appear at Valley Event

Master craftsman Mark DeVito

ANSONIA - Mark DeVito, master craftsman from HGTV’s Flea Market Flip, will be at the Armory Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the My Sister’s Place Flea Market Flip fundraiser. The Armory is at 25 N. Cliff St.

The event is free and open to the public and will feature more than 45 “flipped” items, upcycling and crafting demonstrations and refreshments. 
Proceeds from the sale of each flip item will benefit The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.

 

My Sister's Place Flea Market Flip is a fun, creative twist on recycling or up-cycling similar to the HGTV show with the same name, Flea Market Flip. 
Individual participants or teams of two must purchase their flip item(s) at MSP for $50 or less and no more than $50 may be spent on repurposing/up-cycling the item(s). 

 

This year we have over 45 awesome and creative pieces for sale. 
Some of the items purchased for the flip include dressers, chairs, tables, yarn, glassware, and a special piece by Ansonia Mayor David S. Cassetti. 

Here are a few of the entries:

My Sister's Place, a program of BHcare, is a family thrift store at 380 Main St. All proceeds support The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.
(This is a press release from BHcare)

Donations Sought for Valley Thrift Store

ANSONIA - My Sister’s Place Thrift Store & Donation Center has supported victims of domestic violence for more than 30 years. 

All store proceeds benefit BHcare’s Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services.

The store prides itself on offering quality items for resale to the community. 

More than 25 volunteers work tirelessly, seven days a week, sorting through box after box of donations. 
Sometimes they find items that cannot be used. Any item that has mold or mildew, has been contaminated by rodents, has an unpleasant odor and/or is badly damaged is disposed of and will not be sold in the store.
 

The generosity of donors is appreciated and staff and volunteers try their best to get every dollar possible out of the items donated. 
Ripped and stained clothing pieces are sold as rags and wires are stripped from broken electronics for resale/recycle. 
 

“At a time of uncertainties with the state budget, we are truly grateful for the support we receive from My Sister’s Place,” said Esperina Stubblefield, Director of The Umbrella. “This source of revenue allows us to continue to help thousands of victims of domestic violence."

 

UCDVS provides free and confidential services to more than 6,000 victims of domestic violence and their children. 

Services such as emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotlines, walk-in crisis centers, counseling, advocacy, and other supports are provided to those fleeing from domestic abuse. 

My Sister's Place, a program of BHcare, offers quality new and gently used clothing, furniture and housewares at discount prices. 

 

To learn more visit the store, 380 Main St., or visit www.bhcare.org and www.facebook.com/MySistersPlace.

(This is a press release from BHcare)

Fashion Show for a Cause

Susan DeLeon, Griffin Hospital Heart Wellness Clinic to Receive Caring Heart Award

DERBY - Former Director of The Umbrella Susan DeLeon, of Shelton, and The Heart Wellness Center at Griffin Hospital will be honored with the Caring Heart Award at The 11th Annual Women’s Heart Wellness and Caring Heart Award Brunch on Saturday, March 12 from 8:30 a.m.-noon at the Griffin Hospital Dining Room, 130 Division Street, Derby.

 

The award recognizes individuals and groups that foster initiatives to promote and improve the general health and well-being of all. This is the eighth year that the award will be bestowed.

DeLeon served as director of The Umbrella, a domestic violence shelter in Ansonia, for more than 25 years. She is a marriage and family therapist who has received many community recognitions for her work with The Umbrella and BHCare including the Lillian Chrostowski Award from TEAM, Inc., the Silver Seal Award from the Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Outstanding Community Service Award from Gateway Community-Technical College.

 

Griffin Hospital’s free Heart Wellness Clinic helps those with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) stay well by giving them regular screening and support and providing a better understanding their condition by equipping them with skills and strategies to stay healthy and avoid preventable hospital admissions.

 

The Caring Heart Award is presented by the Women’s Heart Wellness Committee, which consists of healthcare professionals, heart patients and women from throughout the Valley communities. The primary focus of the group is to increase heart disease awareness among women, empower them to love and save their hearts, and ensure they are provided the means to do so through education and rehabilitation. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills nearly twice as many women in the United States as all types of cancer.

 

The brunch will start with registration at 8:30 a.m. and the program will begin at 9 a.m. There will be presentations by Griffin Hospital’s Department of Radiology Chair Dr. Devika Jajoo on ways to take care of your health and Certified Diabetes Educator Mary Swansiger of diabetes prevention and management. There will also be blood pressure and diabetes testing and consultation.

 

Tickets for the brunch are $25 and the event is open to the public. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Heart Wellness Fund, which supports heart wellness programs for women in the Valley.

 

Valet parking will be available.

 

Reservations are due by March 4. To make a reservation or for more information, email whw@griffinhealth.org.

(This is a press release from Griffin Hospital)

Music Therapy Program Expands for Victims and Children of Domestic Violence

The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services (UCDVS) received a grant of $3,500 from the Michael Bolton Charities, Inc. to continue and expand its music therapy program for victims of domestic violence.

 

The music therapy program will now be offered twice a week at UCDVS safe houses.

 

The program, lead by Music Therapist Cyd Slotoroff, has had a positive impact on the families at the shelter. The children and mothers gather together for sing-a-longs and the moms with babies to learn to sing lullabies.

 

“The moms have been able to create new nonviolent experiences and positive memories with their children,” said Jane Adamik, Child Advocate, UCDVS.  “The children look forward to seeing Cyd every week and ask me when she will be back again.” 

 

The Michael Bolton Charities, Inc., founded in 1993, is dedicated to assisting at risk children and women through education and effective programs, creating social awareness to broaden horizons and expanding opportunities for youth across socioeconomic and multicultural lines.

 

BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services (UCDVS) is dedicated to increasing awareness of domestic violence and its effect on the community, empowering those victimized by providing advocacy and safe and effective services, and to working for social change to eliminate domestic violence.  Each year UCDVS provides free and confidential services for more than 6,000 victims and their children. Learn more at www.bhcare.org.

 

(This is a press release from BHCare)

 

Bowl-2-Benefit planned in Milford

Sponsors, bowlers sought for 26th annual event

The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services, a program of BHcare, is looking for bowlers and sponsors to participate in the 26th Annual Bowl-2-Benefit to be held March 8 at AMF Lanes in Milford.

All proceeds benefit UCDVS which provides services to more than 7,000 victims of domestic violence and their children each year throughout the Greater New Haven, Greater Naugatuck Valley, and Shoreline communities.
 
UCDVS provides free emergency safe shelter, 24-hour crisis services, counseling, court advocacy, support and other crucial services.

The Bowl-2-Benefit, one of the largest fundraising events of its kind in the state, attracts more than 1,300 participants.
Bowlers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in teams of 4-6, in one of five bowling sessions scheduled for 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Bowlers pay a minimal $5 registration fee and are asked to collect pledges to support their efforts.  Each bowler will receive 90 minutes of bowling, an event t-shirt, shoe rental, soft drink, and a chance to win prizes.
The event is ideal for clubs, schools, organizations, corporations and families.

The Bowl-2-Benefit offers sponsorship opportunities for all budgets, with levels starting at just $75.  Sponsors reap the benefit of exposure to the more than 1,300 participants as well as additional exposure online.
T-shirt sponsors receive continued exposure with their logo printed on the event tee that is distributed to all bowlers. T-shirt level sponsorships start at just $500.

Decreases in state and federal funding coupled with increases in demand for services make fundraising events such as the Bowl-2-Benefit critical to sustaining services for those at risk and in need.
Last year, the Bowl-2-Benefit raised more than $93,000. Event organizers hope to exceed that amount this year and attract an even larger bowling crowd. 

The 26^th Annual Bowl-2-Benefit is being sponsored by the Bassett Family Fund and by WPLR 99.1-FM and Star 99.9-FM.
Anyone interested in receiving more information about, or participating in the Bowl-2-Benefit, should call Debbie Soulsby, 203-736-2601, ext. 1321 or visit www.bhcare.org.

Deadline for bowler registration is Feb. 27.

This is a press release from BHcare, a regional community provider of behavioral health, addiction prevention, and domestic violence services for the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven and Shoreline communities.  For information, visit www.bhcare.org.

Ansonia agency gets $20K grant for domestic violence services

ANSONIA - In advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Mary Kay Foundation^SM has awarded $3 million in grants to 150 domestic violence shelters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

BHcare’s The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services received one of the $20,000 unrestricted grants to maintain critical services and programs for individuals who are survivors of domestic abuse.

UCDVS provides free, confidential services to more than 9,000 victims of domestic violence and their children each year.
The funds received from The Mary Kay Foundation will help UCDVS provide crisis services including shelter for women and children, a 24-hour crisis hotline, and in-person counseling for victims of domestic violence and their children.  

“Mary Kay is an incredible organization that is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence,” said Susan DeLeon, director of UCDVS.
“Their financial contribution is helping us at a critical time as client numbers have doubled in the last six months, and we’ve had an overwhelming increase in intakes for sheltering.  We are very appreciative of the support of The Mary Kay Foundation and look forward to working in partnership with them to continue making a difference in the lives of survivors and their children.”  

For nearly 20 years The Mary Kay Foundation^SM has supported the prevention and elimination of domestic violence, an epidemic that touches one in every four women in her lifetime. Through the Foundation’s annual shelter grant program, $34 million has been granted to domestic violence organizations since 2000.

“The Mary Kay Foundation^SM is proud to support local shelters that are on the front lines of helping the thousands of women and children who seek shelter and support from abuse,” said Anne Crews, Vice President of Government Relations for Mary Kay Inc. and board member for The Mary Kay Foundation^SM.
“The shelter grants are a signature program for The Mary Kay Foundation and represent just one of the ways we are committed to breaking the cycle of domestic violence.”

Vvisit marykayfoundation.org for additional information.

UCDVS is a program of BHcare that provides services for victims and children of domestic violence free of charge. Each year, over 9,000 abused women and their children walk through the door of UCDVS looking for shelter, help and hope. Learn more at bhcare.org.

To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation^SM, visit www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

This is a press release from BHcare.

Update shared on thrift store in Ansonia

This information is from My Sister's Place Facebook page:

"MSP Update: The painting of the store is complete! The store is now being measured for new carpeting and the renovations continue.  

"Stay tuned for our grand re-opening date. Donations are being accepted Mon - Sat from 9am - 4:30 pm."

My Sister's Place in Ansonia received smoke damage after a March 11 fire at the Asylum Nightclub next door.

All proceeds from the store's sales benefit The Umbrella, a program for victims of domestic violence run by BHcare, a behavioral health organization.

The store has been a vital part of the community for many years and no doubt Valley residents are looking forward to its grand re-opening.