All Categories - Beacon of Hope Crisis Center

Meet Merideth!

9/1/2017

By Kristin Scriven

Meet Merideth Bush, Beacon of Hope’s Crisis Call Team Leader! Merideth joins us fresh out of graduate school where she earned her Master’s degree in International Policy and her MBA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Bay in California. For her undergraduate education, Merideth studied Spanish at Ashbury University in Kentucky.

As Crisis Call Team Leader Merideth is the first point of contact when a victim of domestic violence and or sexual assault calls. Merideth likes being able to support victims and validate their feelings while connecting them with all of the resources Beacon of Hope has to offer!

Her favorite aspect of Beacon of Hope is how inclusive we are of all communities. Domestic violence and sexual assault do discriminate based on ethnicity, religion, language, education, or orientation and getting the chance to serve everyone is one of the things Merideth is most passionate about.

A fun fact about Merideth is that she once roasted marshmallows over a volcano in Guatemala! She is also responsible for introducing our staff to Wednesday mid-morning yoga breaks, an office favorite!

Thanks for your contagious enthusiasm and passion, Merideth!

Inaugural "Give Abuse the Boot" Fundraising Gala

8/30/2017

By Kristin Scriven

We are so excited to introduce our newest fundraiser, Give Abuse the Boot!

This gala will take place on Thursday, October 5th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Barn at Bay Horse Inn in Greenwood, Indiana.

We'll have live music, dinner, a silent auction of baskets from local businesses and organizations, a wine pull, and an incredible live auction!

It’s our pleasure to announce that RTV6 correspondent Lauren Casey will be our emcee and hostess for the evening! Get ready to have a fun time and make a difference in doing so! But what would a party be without some good music? Our band for the evening is Greenwood’s very own “Chicken Bone” from the “Tastes Like Chicken Band”. Their unique acoustic pop and rock style of music is sure to get everyone dancing.

To read about our sponsors and see what kind of items will be up for grabs at the silent and live auctions, follow our Facebook event page to stay up to date.
You won’t want to miss out on our first ever “Give Abuse the Boot” fundraising gala! With your help, we can work toward a world where everyone can live free from the grip of domestic violence and sexual assault. Seating and sponsorship tables are limited so get your tickets today at http://beaconofhopeindy.org/give-abuse-the-boot-gala.html

Working Together For Victims

8/29/2017

By Savannah Tipton

Beacon of Hope employees, interns, and volunteers work together to provide victims of domestic violence and sexual assault with a variety of free resources. We offer individual advocacy, foster pet care, court accompaniment, a crisis call line, and more! We are committed to empowering victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to become self-sufficient by providing safety, education and support. To learn more about what we provide visit our website.

Beacon of Hope Crisis Center 2017 Give Abuse The Boot Gala

8/28/2017

PRESS RELEASE

Beacon of Hope Crisis Center Announces Date for 2017 First Annual
Give Abuse The Boot Gala
Benefit Event will take place at the Barn at Bay Horse Inn in Greenwood on October 5th

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN—August 28, 2017)—The 2017 Give Abuse The Boot Gala (GATB) will take place on October 5, 2017 and is the south-side Indianapolis 501(c)(3) organization’s feature event for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The fundraising event benefits victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. This is a not-to-be-missed event at the Greenwood, Indiana Barn at Bay Horse Inn, just named #1 Wedding Venue in Central Indiana by Indy A list. The event emcee will be Lauren Casey of RTV6 and will have live music entertainment by Tastes Like Chicken Band's "Chicken Bone", dinner, a silent auction of baskets from businesses and organizations, a wine pull, and an incredible live auction with a live auction raffle in which a $100 ticket could win a choice of live auction items worth $1000s.

Proceeds from GATB contribute to Beacon of Hope Crisis Center’s (BOHCC) general operating fund, which advances a range of crisis intervention, advocacy services and educational programs, supports stewardship of BOHCC’s unparalleled service delivery to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and provides for the care and sustainability of BOHCC’s operational facility. BOHCC serves victims in Central Indiana and has advocacy partnerships with local police departments serving victims of crime.

Tickets are on sale for $60 a seat and table sponsorships as well as larger sponsorship packages ranging from $500-$8000 are available for purchase at: http://beaconofhopeindy.org/give-abuse-the-boot-gala.html

If you would like more information, contact Sandra Ziebold, CEO/Executive Director at 317.731.6131 or email at info@beaconofhopeindy.org.

About Beacon of Hope Crisis Center 501(c)3
Beacon of Hope Crisis Center a Christ-centered organization empowering victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to become self-sufficient by providing safety, support and education. Since 2009 Beacon of Hope, through its Crisis Intervention, Victim Advocacy, Counseling, "Teen Talk" Outreach and Education, Criminal Justice, Economic Sustainability and Foster Pet Programs has offered victims of domestic violence assistance in overcoming barriers that hold them in abusive situations. Beacon of Hope is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information about Beacon of Hope can be found at beaconofhopeindy.org.

BOHCC Blog: beaconofhopeindy.org/blog
Twitter: @bohindyorg
Facebook: @Beaconofhopeindy
Instagram: @beacon.of.hope.indy
#giveabusetheboot

For publicity links and images, visit http://beaconofhopeindy.org/news.html
# # #
August 28, 2017
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT
Sandra K. Ziebold, CEO / Executive Director
(or) Jazmine Rivera, Event Planning Intern
Beacon of Hope Crisis Center
317 731 6131

Meet Rosa!

8/25/2017

By Kristin Scriven

Meet Rosa Ponce, Beacon of Hope’s Senior Victim Advocate! Rosa graduated in May of 2017 from Ball State University with a dual degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology and a minor in Social Work.

As Senior Victim Advocate, Rosa oversees the criminal justice team and works directly to support the victims. When asked why she loves working at Beacon of Hope, Rosa said, “I love what we stand for and what we do; I’m passionate about working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. I love that we get to help spread awareness about such important issues.”

Rosa’s favorite service that Beacon of Hope offers is court accompaniment. She loves being a pillar of support for the victim in their time of need. Her support helps victims feel a sense of safety and security during a scary time.

In her spare time, Rosa loves hiking and reading. Currently, her favorite book is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline. A fun fact is that Rosa is initially from California and moved to Indiana when she was six years old! When she’s not working, you can find Rosa at Klipsch Music Center attending country concerts.

We love having you as part of the team, Rosa!

Thanks Coffeehouse FIVE

8/24/2017

By Sandra K. Ziebold

Coffeehouse FIVE is giving Beacon of Hope Crisis Center 10% of their profits for the month of August. They are located at 323 Market Plaza, Greenwood, IN 46142.

Stop in to see them everyday! Scones, coffee, smoothies and lots of other yummy menu items!

Thank you Coffeehouse FIVE for choosing our 501(c)(3) to support during the month of August 2017. We appreciate you!

#WeServeEveryone

8/23/2017

By Sandra K. Ziebold and Merideth Bush

BeaconOfHopeIndy.Org #WeServeEveryone

Beacon of Hope is a Christ-centered crisis center. To some, it may sound as though we exclusively offer services to the Christian community or that we impose Christian beliefs on those we serve, but this could not be further from the truth. When we say that we are a Christ-centered agency, we mean that our approach to victim services seeks to imitate the qualities exemplified by Christ’s interactions with the hurting people in his community: qualities such as kindness, respectfulness, non-judgement, and acceptance.

What does this look like in practice?

It looks like reaching out to leaders of refugee communities, including those which represent ethnic and religious minorities, so that they know what the laws are regarding intimate partner violence, how to recognize it, and where to find service providers that will respect and accommodate their religious and cultural needs alongside traditional legal and advocacy services.

It looks like looking past gender stereotypes to recognize that 1 in 4 men will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime. We welcome and advocate for male victims with the same dedication and compassion we show to female victims.
It looks like reaching out to service providers of our immigrant population to make sure they know that they can seek help to escape intimate partner violence regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

It looks like seeking partnerships with interpreters so that we can overcome language barriers. Domestic violence and sexual assault are not limited by languages. The advocacy we offer shouldn’t be either.

It looks like recognizing that the LGBTQ+ community suffers from domestic violence and sexual assault with the same frequency and severity as their heterosexual counterparts, and welcoming members of this community with open arms when they choose to seek help.

It looks like the relief on the face of a client from a marginalized community when they turn to us at the end of an advocacy appointment, smile for the first time that day and say, “Thank you. I honestly didn’t think I’d find anyone willing to help me.”

This is Beacon of Hope’s Christ-centered approach to victim advocacy in action. Regardless of race, religion, gender, culture, sexual orientation, or any other label that may differentiate us, the Christ-like qualities of kindness, respectfulness, non-judgment, and acceptance are the inspiration for our interaction with every client, and lie at the very heart of who we are at Beacon of Hope.

Abusive Relationship? We Can Help

8/22/2017

By Sandra K. Ziebold

Success Narrative

8/21/2017

Victim Advocate - Beacon of Hope Crisis Center

“Thank you. Honestly, I didn’t think anyone would be willing to help me.”

I received a call from a client who comes from a marginalized victim population in which admitting to domestic violence victimization is extremely taboo. Though this client could barely muster the courage to describe their situation as “abuse,” as they told me their story it became clear that they were a victim of financial, verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. The client recognized the need to protect themselves and their family from their abuser, so we set up a time to meet for Protective Order filing assistance later that same day.

The process of filling out the paper work was an emotionally turbulent one for the victim. Not only was it difficult to admit to the abuse and to seek help for a problem their culture tells them they shouldn’t even acknowledge, but the fact is they still cared deeply for their abuser, and were grieving as though for the loss of a loved one. I supported them as best I could, giving them privacy to cry when they needed it, and validation and comfort when appropriate. It was a difficult process, but after two hours of re-living the abuse and filling out the paperwork that made their “victim” status so shockingly real to them, the victim took a deep breath, stood up,
and for the first time, smiled. Before walking out the door they looked me in the eye, relief written across their face and commented, “Thank you. Honestly, I didn’t think anyone would be willing to help me.”

Seeking Board Members Interested In The Task Of Sustainability

8/20/2017

By Sandra K. Ziebold

BeaconOfHopeIndy.Org

Do you stand out? Are you up for the task of elevating a nonprofit? Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is seeking seriously committed, sustainability producers. If you can deliver and want to schedule an interview, call Sandra Ziebold CEO/Executive Director (317) 731-6131.

Board Member Opportunity for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault 510(c)(3) Organization

Perry Township based Beacon of Hope is a non-profit crisis support organization serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault primarily in the central Indiana area.

The Board supports the work of Beacon of Hope and provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance. Each board member also makes annual personal donations, helps bring additional funding from outside donors and supports various fundraising events.

If you are interested in a two-year commitment, please see our website to learn more about our agency and reach out to talk with me about the opportunity of joining our wonderful team that is a making a difference in Central Indiana.

Sandy Ziebold, CEO / Executive Director (317)731-6131