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The Vera House Foundation is privileged to
announce the "re-energization" of the Faye Panasci Children's Fund, made
possible by a generous five-year, $250,000 commitment by Faye Panasci.
This new initiative, named
Drawing Together For Children,
is a "heartfelt gift that sets a wonderful standard of
generosity and commitment to children's needs"
said Vera House Executive Director Randi Bregman.
"Since its creation in December of 1997, the Fund has supported education and
intervention programs that are having a very direct impact on the lives of
children in our community."
In announcing this major gift at the
Foundation's "Home for the Holidays" Gala on November 20, Foundation Chair
Carroll Clark said,
"Faye's goal is to build an endowment that can support the
ongoing needs of Vera House's youth programs into the future."
"Anything that we can do to help children is something we
need to do a lot of and more of,"
said Faye
Panasci,
"and we need to remember that when children are
involved, there is nothing more important than education. These children's
programs are so important."
Faye's initial gift in 1997 not only "jump
started" operations for a children's outreach and education program involving
domestic violence, but it also helped provide an annual funding stream for new
initiatives. In addition, the fund helped promote awareness in the community
about the need for such education and intervention for children. Vera House soon
began to realize that educating and supporting children is the best way to deter
future abusive relationships and invest in healthy ones.
In fact, during 2003 Vera House:
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Supported 94 children with our Children's
Counseling Program which
provides therapeutic counseling to children affected by
domestic violence
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Provided shelter, food and care for 176 children
at our Emergency Shelters
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Educated 5,966 elementary, middle, and high
school students through
our Youth Awareness Program
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