Agency to Host Fundraiser & Events for Multiple Campaigns in April
UTICA, N.Y. (April 1, 2021) – April is nationally recognized as both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. As local providers of sexual violence services and child advocacy services, YWCA Mohawk Valley (YWCA MV) will host a number of virtual events to help spread awareness.
YWCA MV will host a virtual Take Back the Night (TBTN) event on Tuesday, April 20. Typically, these powerful events consist of an in-person rally, march, and speak-out for survivors of sexual assault to share their stories. This year, the April TBTN will host a virtual rally and speak-out.
To replace the in-person march, YWCA MV will launch 1 in 3: Take a Walk with Me on April 1. The campaign asks participants to take a walk with two friends, family members, neighbors, etc., with an emphasis on safety by wearing masks and continuing social distancing practices. The walk illustrates the statistic that one in three women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime.
YWCA MV asks that anyone who joins 1 in 3: Take a Walk with Me throughout Sexual Assault Awareness Month take a photo during their walk and share on social media by tagging YWCA Mohawk Valley on Facebook, @ywcamohawkvalley on Instagram, and @YWCA_MV on Twitter.
In Herkimer County, the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) will raise awareness through the return of Pinwheels for Prevention. The agency has partnered with Herkimer County K-12 schools to fundraise for this prevention effort by selling blue pinwheels, the symbol of child abuse awareness, throughout the month. The CAC will also display pinwheels on the lawn of their office location in Ilion to illustrate the number of children served in 2020.
Nationally, the signature Stand Against Racism campaign by YWCA USA will be held Thursday, April 22 through Sunday, April 25. The campaign theme this year is From Declarations to Change: Addressing Racism as a Public Health Crisis. Visit standagainstracism.org to learn more.
YWCA MV will host a panel discussion centering Education Equity at noon on Friday, April 23 with local community leaders. Throughout the month, there will also be social media awareness campaign and giveaways. The 2021 Stand Against Racism campaign at YWCA MV is sponsored by Excellus BlueCrossBlueShield. Learn more at ywcamv.org/StandAgainstRacism.
The agency’s annual Salute to Outstanding Women celebration and awards ceremony, presented by Baird Private Wealth Management, will be held virtually on Thursday, April 22 at noon. Eight women from across Herkimer and Oneida counties were announced as the 2020-2021 honorees during the virtual Reveal in March.
Salute serves as the largest dedicated fundraiser at YWCA MV, with all proceeds providing direct support to the agency’s 24-hour free and confidential domestic violence crisis services. Tickets for the celebration are available at ywcamv.org/Salute.
