by Jeremy Couso
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month across the nation and here locally Lassen Family Services has reached out to our community through a series of events and projects aimed at raising awareness and acknowledgment of a crime that is truly heinous in nature – domestic violence.
According to Lassen Family Services 40% of California women will experience physical intimate partner violence in their lifetime. In 2012 LFS provided services to 1 out of 48 residents in Lassen County, over 208 of those helped were victims of domestic violence.
There is a long history behind Lassen Family Services. The private, non-profit organization was founded in 1979 and relies completely on federal, state and foundation grants and public donations to provide a lengthy list of free services to our community; domestic violence and sexual assault rape crisis counseling/intervention, emergency shelter and transitional housing, 24-Hour crisis line, sexual assault response team, Court Appointed Special Advocates program, child abuse treatment program, legal assistance/court advocacy, parent education, prevention education, law enforcement and hospital accompaniment, emergency food and clothing, emergency and non-emergency transportation and community referrals.
Yes. Read that last paragraph one more time. One local non-profit organization does all of that. Amazing.
Dancing for a Brand New Me
Saturday evening the month-long awareness campaign comes to an end with a big finale. A huge party full of glitz and glamour and all for a good cause!
This is the inaugural year for Lassen Family Service’s ‘Dancing for a Brand New Me’, a dance competition where five well-known and talented local folks are paired with five amazing trained dancers from the House of Dance studio. The five couples will dance to a variety of genres in three competitive rounds. The competition is similar to network television’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ with a panel of judges commenting on the performances at the end of each round.
“Dancing for a Brand New Me was inspired by the LFS team in attempting to bring something ‘new’ to the community through outreach and entertainment with the focus on domestic violence,” explains Lassen Family Services Executive Director Melissa Downing. “Jennifer House, from House of Dance, was instrumental in bringing it from inspiration into reality.”
“Through this show,” said Downing, “we hope to bring education and awareness to domestic violence as a community issue, inspire our community to speak out against domestic violence and bring forward hope and empowerment to victims. Only, together we can make the difference in the lives of others and in our community.”
Along with the evening’s dance competition there will be vocal performances by Emily Fluke and Sallie Rorie with big opening and closing numbers featuring all of the dancers.
Miss Lassen County Heather Fortin and Ambassadress of Susanville Cheyenne Osborn will be on hand to help announce the winners.
The program will also include a presentation by guest speaker Jennifer McElrath-Head.
“I am excited about the Brand New Me experience that will affect each community member that attends,” Downing said. “Dancing for a Brand New Me promises to be entertaining and motivational causing each person to think about their part in spreading the message. No more excuses. No more silence. No more violence. LFS is hoping to make this an annual event and we are looking forward to working with new dance companies and dancers next year.”
Meet Your Dancers
“I would like to first recognize all of the dancers; Alex McElrath, Ruth Ellis, Jennifer House, Eric Nielson, Aimee McCoy, Michael Kirack, Seanne McElrath, Deb Sokol, Nicole McCoy and Tater Lohr. Without their hard work and dedication to the cause, this show would not be possible,” said Downing. “Further, I would like to thank Jeremy Couso, Jennifer McElrath-Head, Emily Fluke, Angela House, and the House of Dance dance team for their contribution of talents.”
Downing also thanked Lisa Bernard, Tomm Williams, Coral, Matthew & Geoff Pregill, Best of Broadway and Marcia Parker for their time in assisting with stage, lighting, sound and photography and Soroptomists for providing dessert and always willing to lend a helping hand.
“In addition,” said Downing, “I would like to thank the community for supporting Lassen Family Services in their fight against domestic violence. Finally, I would like to thank the LFS Team and Board of Directors. They are an amazing group of people that bring hope to our community.”
Bid on Some Neat Raffle prizes
During intermission desserts will be served downstairs by the Susanville Soroptimists. There will be a nifty photo booth set up and a drawing for some valuable raffle items.
Items include a pair of handcrafted wooden Adirondack Chairs generously donated to Lassen Family Services for this event by the California Correctional Center’s Parlin Fork Conservation Camp #6. These unique, solid redwood Adirondack chairs are valued at over $400! You can buy a ticket and get a chance to win for only $20. Click here to download the raffle item flyer.
You can also bid on a gourmet custom cake. The cake is made to order by Fran Sisk owner and baker at It’s a Bundt Time – Cakes for Any Occasion. A chance to win this gourmet cake, a value of $60, is only $5 a ticket and remember that all of this money goes to a great cause. For more details click here and download the raffle item flyer.
Here’s a chance to get a mini-vacation which includes two nights at the Redding River House plus a River Romance Sunset Candlelight Dinner Cruise right on the river. The two-night stay at the Redding River House was generously donated by Todd and Shannon Giles and is valued at over $320. The dinner cruise was donated by River Romance, also located in Redding, and you can get a chance to win both with only a $20 ticket! Click here and follow the link to download the raffle item flyer.
Raffle tickets will be on sale during intermission and prize winners will be announced near the end of the show.
The Lassen Family Services event will begin at 7:00 Saturday evening on the stage at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall on Main Street. Tickets for adults are $10 and $5 for seniors and kids under twelve. You can buy them at Lassen Family Services 1306 Riverside Drive. Tickets are selling out fast so make sure you get yours as early as you can.
