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JBWS Achieves National Recognition with Purple Ribbon Awards

We are excited to announce that JBWS submitted five entries and was honored in all five of those categories at the first annual Purple Ribbon Awards presented by DomesticShelters.org! Thank you to all of the donors, community partners and supporters who helped us achieve this national recognition. And the winners are…

Outstanding Youth Initiative of the Year – DAPP
The Dating Abuse Prevention Program reaches approximately 8,000 students a year across middle schools, high schools, and colleges discussing dating abuse through an engaging and interactive curriculum. That’s 8,000 students in Morris County, NJ who are able to recognize early warning signs of abuse and access resources for help. DAPP’s outreach includes classroom workshops, a student ambassador group representing various high schools, an annual youth conference, and social media outreach.

Outstanding Fundraising Event – Grand Tastings
JBWS’ premier event, Grand Tastings, occurs annually in May. Guests enjoy sampling signature dishes prepared by notable local chefs. Grand Tastings faced uncertainty in 2020 due to COVID-19. Social media allowed JBWS to get creative and pivot the event to a digital format. JBWS broadcasted the event via YouTube and reached a nationwide audience. Grand Tastings ultimately hosted over 1,000 virtual attendees. The event was made possible at an unprecedented time through long time JBWS supporters.

Business Partner of the Year – Verizon
Verizon began supporting JBWS in 2000. As our largest corporate sponsor, Verizon provides support for various JBWS programs. They provided financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Verizon is strongly committed to the fight against domestic violence. They have funded domestic violence educational tools used on a national level. Verizon holds a personal investment on the JBWS Board of Directors with the VP of Global Sales & Service Centers, Kelley Kurtzman, serving as the current Vice Chair.

Outstanding New Service Launch – RRH
JBWS’ Community Housing Assistance – Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Program is one of the first of its kind in New Jersey. RRH helps domestic violence survivors transition from emergency shelter to rental housing in the community. Rental assistance and additional services help survivors maintain permanent safe housing. The program offers flexible housing options to survivors regardless of residency status, age, criminal record, employment, or credit history and is open to survivors of all identities.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Regina “Jeanne” Braham
For 44 years, Regina Braham has been in the vanguard of a movement to prevent sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Her career of distinction includes many “firsts” as she bridges counseling, advocacy, institutional change, public awareness, and primary prevention to advance the mission. Regina is retiring from her life’s work in June 2021. Her outstanding career, marked by innovative programs, is rooted in her passion to create social change and is most deserving of this award.

About DomesticShelters.org

DomesticShelters.org is the first and largest online and mobile searchable directory of domestic violence programs and shelters in the U.S. and Canada, and a leading source of helpful tools and information for people experiencing and working to end domestic violence. DomesticShelters.org is a service that is free to the public and is provided and operated by 501(c)3 non-profit charity Theresa’s Fund.

Theresa’s Fund is an Arizona-based 501(c)3 non-profit charity started in 1992 by Preston V. McMurry, Jr. Originally, and at a time when domestic violence wasn’t yet a headline, Theresa’s Fund focused on changing the landscape of domestic violence services in its home state through grantmaking, board development and fundraising for Arizona-based organizations like East Valley Child Crisis Center, Sojourner Center, Florence Crittenden, Emerge, UMOM, and West Valley Child Crisis Center. In 2014, it developed the DomesticShelters.org concept as a way to expand its reach to people across the U.S./Canada.