Annual Report - Laurel House

• During the past year,
volunteers contributed
services valued at
over $300,000,
dedicated toward the
vision of ending
domestic violence.
• Beyond their day-today
work our
volunteers have been
instrumental in
connecting the
agency with local
communities and
forging together
with the community-
at-large to further our mission of ending domestic violence.
• Core group of 80 program volunteers (increased from 66 in the
previous year) dedicate regular hours on a monthly basis.
• The volunteer program has expanded to include quarterly
e-newsletters and All-Volunteer meetings.
• Numerous groups, school clubs, church groups, and corporations
provided 1183 hours of service. These volunteers prepared lunch
for shelter residents, organized craft activities for children in the
shelter, painted, taught yoga to shelter residents, and collected
thousands of donated items.
• Graduate students and undergrads continue to play a very
important role in our volunteer program. Students from
numerous area colleges continue to make it possible for Laurel
House to significantly increase counseling and other supportive
services to residents and the community. Interns provided 3000
hours of service to victims of domestic violence over the past year.
• A dedicated group of 43 volunteers work tirelessly at Marian’s
Attic, processing donations, as well as creating a safe, fun
environment for customers.
• Committee members work on a daily basis, along side staff, to
reach the year’s goals. With their service and guidance, this year’s
dreams have become a reality.
…and the list goes on, heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our
volunteers for making Laurel House a priority.
laurel house volunteers make a difference
Patty Mark with the Auerbach family and
their donation of Girl Scout cookies
Jan Biresch, James Aston, a medical student at PCOM and organizer, Julia
Cheringal, President of Student Physicians for Social Responsibility at PCOM,
Beth Sturman, and Jenny Boyer at check presentation from funds raised at
the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event.
Some highlights from the past year:
• Allstate Foundation $20,000 grant for the Self-Sufficiency Task
Force to strengthen our efforts to help women enter and succeed
in the workplace. The group uses a mentorship approach and
financial empowerment curriculum from Allstate that is specifically
designed to help women who are domestic violence survivors
become financially self-sufficient
• The Merck Partnership for Giving campaign has resulted in more
than $40,000 in charitable contributions each year to Laurel
House for over a decade. For many years, Merck has also proudly
supported Laurel House’s annual 5K DASH.
Tina Reynolds, Dr. Tammy Portolese, Jenny Boyer at check presentation from
Portolese Family Chiropratic
• The Reporter raises awareness of domestic violence in the North
Penn community by publishing articles about Laurel House’s
services for victims and survivors, as well as strong opinion and
editorial pieces advocating for societal change against domestic
abuse. For the 2008 5K DASH, The Reporter was the event’s first
Media Sponsor and donated valuable ad space that helped to
attract a record-breaking crowd.
• Verizon Wireless was among the first foundations funding Laurel
House’s Domestic Abuse Response Team for Law Enforcement, a
program which continues to receive generous support from the
Verizon Foundation through a recent grant of $20,000.
• Verizon Telephone Pioneers of America: A group of Verizon
retirees, (TeleCompioneers), coordinates food drives for Laurel
House’s shelter throughout the year and makes generous financial
contributions.
• St. Eleanor Parish CYO chose Laurel House as the recipient of
their bake sale proceeds.
• Phila. College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) continued annual
support of Laurel House in response to the training provided for
1st year medical students by the MAP
• Two DART II volunteers, Heather Chiarlanza and Siobhan Klinger
organized our first Basket Bingo fundraiser.
Tara Barker, Carrie Nelligan, Michelle Boyer, Jenny Boyer at Basket Bingo at
Limerick Fire Dept.
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