Mary G. Roebling Foundation Grant

December 16, 2015 – On December 10^, 2015 Womanspace was awarded a $7,000 Grant from the Mary G. Roebling Foundation, Inc.  Mary G. Roebling was a prominent and influential business leader, with contributions in the areas of finance, politics, women’s rights, and philanthropy. The purpose of her foundation today, is to support educational, cultural, and other charitable programs in the greater Trenton area. The funds from this grant will go towards our Annual Appeal which helps the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking year around receive the essential services needed to maintain a well balanced lifestyle. In 2014, Womanspace: Served 6,426 hotline callers, professionally trained & educated 6,589 community members, served 208 women and children at the safe house, went on 72 sexual assault accompaniments, served 3,396 clients in our counseling office, and advocated for over 1,440 clients. We’re very pleased to have generous organizations such as the Mary G. Roebling Foundation who support Womanspace’s mission. Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable lifesaving programs and services to our survivors.

Princeton Area Community Foundation Grant

December 17, 2015 – This fall the Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded $570,000 to 22 area nonprofit agencies through its flagship grants program, Greater Mercer Grants. Womanspace had the honor to be one of those agencies, receiving $40,000 unrestricted. The Community Foundation collaborates with the Harbourton Foundation and charitable funds established at the Foundation by individuals and families to support Greater Mercer Grants. The list of donors grows every year and the Princeton Area Community Foundation welcomes the participation of those dedicated to supporting the nonprofit organizations that work on behalf of Mercer County residents.The Princeton Area Community Foundation promotes philanthropy and builds communities across Mercer County and central New Jersey. The Community Foundation provides charitable giving expertise to individuals, nonprofits and corporations, and makes grants to nonprofit organizations. Since its founding in 1991, the Community Foundation has granted more than $40 million back into the community. Thank you Princeton Area Community Foundation for choosing Womanspace to be the recipient of a $40,000 grant.

Womanspace would like to say THANK YOU to the generous community members and businesses that donated food, toys, clothing, personal care items and household gifts for the holidays.  Below are a few of the many generous donors that helped spread the holiday spirit to our clients and their families.

Christine’s Hope for Kids presenting their donations to Womanspace

New Jersey Economic Development Authority made some wonderful gift baskets for our clients at our transitional housing location

Special thank you to the Body Project for these adorable gift bags for all of our clients

The Women’s Power Dinner hosted by Landy Eaton and Jan Noonan was a huge success! Thank you all the generous donors who came and supported Womanspace.

Help support Womanspace by Purchasing Eduardo the Elephant for $19.95 and Avon will donate $10 to Womanspace.  To purchase the elephant online, click here!

For more information on how to participate contact District Sales Manager Ximena Cortes at Ximena.cortes@avon.com

It’s the season of giving! Check out our holiday donation needs. All donations are greatly appreciated.

On Thursday, June 4th, Womanspace was awarded a charitable grant from BlackRock for $5,000 supporting our Deaf Advocacy Project. It is estimated that one in every four women are beaten and one in every five women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime. For the deaf and hard of hearing the ratios are even higher. Individuals that cannot communicate or do not understand the culture of deaf communities cause isolation, making it difficult for them to receive quick and effective help.

The Deaf Advocacy Project will train deaf advocates to respond to deaf victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The NJ Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing has been supportive in providing American Sign Language interpreters however, the ability to continue to provide this service is limited and the associated costs for 80 hours of training, ongoing supervision and travel expenses. With the Womanspace Deaf Advocacy Project, following the completion of training our Deaf Advocates will have the ability to accompany the Deaf Victims to the police station, court, the hospital, or wherever the Victim needs support.

In partnership with the NJ Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the NJ Coalition for Battered Women, and the NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault we are working to help give a voice to the hundreds and hundreds of victims who cannot be heard. The program is being piloted in Mercer County, New Jersey and hopefully with help from funders like BlackRock, it will be statewide in 2 years. If you are interested in making a donation to the Womanspace Deaf Advocacy Project, please visit our website: womanspace.org and click the “To donate to the Deaf Advocacy Project click here” to be directed to the gofundme.com page or make a donation to Womanspace and designate it to the Deaf Advocacy Program.

Womanspace, Inc. is a leading nonprofit agency in Mercer County, New Jersey, that provides a comprehensive array of services to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people of all genders and their families. Programs include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy and housing services and so much more.

Womanspace is honored to have been chosen by Whole Foods Market- Princeton, to be this quarter’s Nickels for Non-Profit designated Organization. Each customer that brings in reusable bags receives .05 cents for each bag. The customers then have the option to donate their refund(s) to Womanspace this quarter. Each time you go shopping, don’t forget your reusable bag to save the planet, while also helping to prevent abuse, protect families, and change lives through empowerment and a safety net of supportive services. Womanspace, Inc. is a leading nonprofit agency in Mercer County, New Jersey, that provides a comprehensive array of services to individuals and families impacted by human trafficking, domestic, and sexual violence; and dedicated to improving the quality of life for victims, survivors and their families. Programs include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy, education and training, children’s services, response team advocates, and housing services. Womanspace will be Whole Foods Market- Princeton’s Nickels for Non-Profits designated organization until September 27th.Remember, every nickel counts!

Womanspace welcomes restaurant owners Raoul and Carlo Momo Co-Founders of the Terra Momo Restaurant Group. Raoul is an active member of the community, serving on the Board of Trustees and Treasurer for The Suppers Program, an organization that promotes healthy eating. He is also a member of the Princeton and Kingston Historical Society. Carlo Momo Co-Founder of the Terra Momo Restaurant Group and brother of Raoul Momo, is involved in all aspects of the company’s restaurant operations and restaurant site selection, with a particular focus on the restaurant architectural design, standards of service and wine selection. Carlo is a supporter of the many non-profit organizations, and is especially involved with fundraising efforts for area arts organizations, such as the Arts Council of Princeton.

Partners in Terra Momo Restaurant Group, Raoul and Carlo have been restaurant owners for the past 33 years. With a reputation for opening forward-thinking restaurant concepts, they have continually brought new trends to the Central New Jersey area, beginning as early as 1982, when they opened Teresa’s Caffe an artisan pizza café. They continued setting trends when they opened Mediterra, a Mediterranean restaurant featuring a Tapas Bar. Following that they opened Terra Momo Bread Company, an artisan bread store, both located in the heart of downtown Princeton. Their newest concept, a Wine Bar and Restaurant, featuring locally grown produce is Eno Terra, located in the historic village of Kingston, New Jersey. As they look to the future, the emphasis on buying local is very important to their company, as is dealing with supplier partners who share the same commitment to sustainable business practices and organic production. They maintain that the integrity of the cuisine served at all of their restaurants is the essence of how they are defined in the restaurant industry.

Raoul and Carlo’s dedication to Womanspace’s mission will positively impact the success of  this year’s Communities of Light event.The lighting of luminaries throughout the county is our unique way of increasing local awareness of the presence of domestic and sexual violence in our community. It is also our way of shedding light on the Womanspace mission to serve its victims at the moment of crisis and throughout their journey of healing.

Communities of Light is an annual public awareness campaign and fundraiser that brings multiple NJ counties together to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault and services available to victims and survivors in their community. Several domestic violence agencies join with Womanspace in selling luminary kits (containing votive candles, bags & instructions) and then lighting the candles at dusk on a night during the winter solstice, which this year is Monday, December 7, 2015. Volunteers throughout the state will coordinate participation within their neighborhoods, businesses, faith-based and community organizations to illuminate the night and send the message that Peace Begins at Home. Click here to learn more about Communities of Light.

Womanspace’s environmentally-friendly luminary kits were designed and assembled by J. Knipper & Company. Additional event sponsors include Doctors Express Urgent Care and the Times of Trenton. The $10 Luminary kits will be available at several retail locations throughout Mercer County. If you’re unable to light a luminary kit, please also consider purchasing a virtual luminary that will serve as the same purpose.

Last year Womanspace served over 11,202 adults and children. It is our hope that families who struggle with violence in their homes will see that their community stands with them and learn that help is available. In order to succeed we need the support of the Mercer County community; supporters can contact Lauren Nazarian, Director of Development, at (609) 394-0136 or at lan@womanspace.org. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Susan Adams at 609-394-0136 or at saa@womanspace.org. Read more about COL volunteer opportunities.

If you are a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault and in need of assistance, please call the 24-hour hotline at 609-394-9000 to speak with someone immediately. Services at Womanspace include crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, court advocacy and housing services.

To visit the Terra Momo Website, Click here!

The 2013 Communities of Light™ Honorary Chairs: (from left to right) Rev. Dr. David A. Davis, Rev. Teresa Ely, The Very Rev. René Rory John, Rev. Karen Hernández-Granzen and Rabbi Daniel Grossman

This year, Womanspace has named a diverse group of members from the faith based community who have actively advocated platforms of non-violence as Honorary Chairs. Womanspace welcomes Reverend Dr. David Davis of Nassau Presbyterian Church, Reverend Teresa Ely of Hamilton Square Baptist Church, Rabbi Daniel Grossman of Adath Israel Congregation, Reverend Karen Hernández-Granzen of Westminster Presbyterian Church and The Very Reverend Rene Rory John of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral as Honorary Chairs of the 12th Annual Communities of Light™ Campaign.

Learn more about how you can participate in Communities of Light™!