Gift will enable SARC to provide clients with no-cost legal guidance and representation.
[Bel Air, MD] July 30, 2015— On July 14, Boeing’s Employees Community Fund Board Member David Lockhart presented Gwendolyn Tate, Esq. of SARC (Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center) with a check in the amount of $5,000 to support the work done by SARC’s legal department on behalf of victims of domestic violence in the community.
The financial support from the Boeing’s Employees Community Fund will enable SARC’s legal department to assist clients by providing free, civil legal services for protective orders, divorce, custody and child support proceedings. This gift will also help SARC rebuild the legal program and reduce the current backlog of 22 clients who have no other legal resources available to them. SARC’s legal program has undergone drastic cuts in government funding over the last three fiscal years, resulting in a significant reduction of staff and resources.
According to Luisa Caiazzo, CEO of SARC, in 2014 SARC’s legal department accompanied 179 clients to court cases involving temporary and final protective orders, divorce and custody proceedings and criminal trials. In addition, the department led 263 court proceedings with an attorney, staffed 580 legal crisis counseling sessions, organized 697 legal safety planning sessions, and had a protective order success rate of 92%. Caiazzo says, “Thanks to the generous gift from the employees of Boeing, SARC will be able to continue to provide this type of legal assistance to our clients.”
About SARC (https://www.sarc-maryland.org/)
Since 1978 SARC (Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center) has provided hope and resources to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and stalking. Services include a 24-Hour-Helpline, counseling, legal representation, a confidential safe house and community outreach and education.
