Friday, May 29, 2009

Janet Ellerby, interim director of the Women's Studies and Resource Center (WSRC) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Amy Chapman, director of the 2009 UNCW Vagina Monologues, presented donations of $1,488 to the Rape Crisis Center at Coastal Horizons and the Wilmington Domestic Violence Shelter on Thursday, May 28 at Coastal Horizons. These donations marked an eight-year partnership between the WSRC and the local organizations.

"These funds will help to sustain free services to victims of sexual violence in our community. Our services include 24/7/365 hospital response, individual counseling, support groups, court
accompaniment, advocacy, victim outreach, community education and sexual violence prevention," said Julie Ozier of the Rape Crisis Center.

UNC Wilmington was one of many campuses across the world to participate in the V-Day 2009 campaign to end violence against women and girls. The WSRC raised $2,976 through ticket sales and donations at three February productions of the Vagina Monologues. Profits were then divided between the Wilmington Domestic Violence Shelter, the Rape Crisis Center at Coastal Horizons and the global V-Day campaign for women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ellerby said she enjoyed working with the Wilmington community this year and expects that the WSRC will continue to develop strong relationships with external organizations.

"A big part of the WSRC mission is community outreach," she said. "Strong ties with organizations like Rape Crisis, Domestic Violence Shelter and the YWCA aid us in addressing women's issues and working for the betterment of women both locally and globally."

Media Contacts:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu

Janet Ellerby, UNCW Women's Studies and Resource Center, 910.962.3764 or ellerbyj@uncw.edu

Photo caption: Amy Chapman, UNCW student Autumn Beam, UNCW Women's Studies and Resource Center interim director Janet Ellerby and Julie Ozier (l-r) are pictured on May 28 at Coastal Horizons. The UNCW WSRC donated $1,488 to the Rape Crisis Center and the Domestic Violence Shelter. UNCW/Caroline Cropp