Rape Victim Advocates’ Anniversary Celebration Successfully Raises Over $60,000 for Sexual Assault Survivors

Nearly three hundred guests gathered at Revel Downtown on Thursday, June 26th to celebrate Rape Victim Advocates’ (RVA) 40 years of service to helping victims become survivors.  The evening successfully raised over $60,000 and featured cocktails, small bites, silent auction, raffle and music representing the four decades of RVA's service from the 1970’s -2000’s.

Vocalo Radio host Molly Adams served as emcee and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan offered up her support for the work RVA is doing.   A former RVA “Visionary Award” winner, Madigan powerfully remarked, "We have an epidemic of sexual assault in this country. We don't want to live in a world where this kind of violence affects so many people." She added, "When we try to have these difficult conversations, people are uncomfortable and go silent. But this room doesn't."

Other speakers included Martha Turner, daughter of RVA founder Dr. Natalie Stephens Turner and founding volunteer Dr. Sandra Burke.   Sexual assault survivor, Marta Coronado, who has benefitted greatly from RVA's services, cast a hush over the crowd when she spoke of her experiences, crediting RVA with saving her life. "My RVA counselor cared for me until I could care for myself," Coronado explained of her journey to recovery. "My abusers have not taken my spirit to live, serve and love."

“We are grateful for everyone that came out to support us and are thrilled to have raised funds so that we may continue our work as sexual assault agency that serves Chicago, including our 24-hour crisis response to 14 hospitals,” explains Sharmili Majmudar, executive director of RVA.  “It is our focus to assure that survivors of sexual violence are treated with dignity and compassion, while also providing the necessary tools for their recovery and educating to prevent such violence in the first place.”

Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group counseling, and medical and legal advocacy in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. RVA provides public education and institutional advocacy in order to improve the treatment of sexual assault survivors and to effect positive change in policies and public attitudes toward sexual assault. RVA envisions a world where prevention efforts and global awareness of sexual violence expose rape myths, remove stigmas, eliminate rape and support all people as equal members of society.  www.rapevictimsadvocates.org