October 2022 Newsletter
A New Leaf
Dedicated to helping end homelessness, domestic violence, poverty, and other community challenges in Arizona.
Hello to our incredible community!
October is?Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and our attention is focused on women, children, and men seeking to escape abuse.?A New Leaf works with cities, police departments, and other organizations across the Valley to help this vulnerable community,?providing safety and shelter?to thousands of survivors.
Unfortunately however, our community has seen a?massive increase in domestic violence, and?far more tragic deaths?in the last year.?This is a disturbing trend that has had us all on edge. It has also concerned A New Leaf’s dedicated?Domestic Violence?staff members who work every day to help survivors find safety and independence.
It is for this exact reason that A New Leaf has expanded our domestic violence shelter programming to?Pinal County, opened the very?first Rape Crisis Center?in Arizona, and has started more robust work to?address trauma and healing?in survivors. We believe that the only way to address rising violence is through community action. We as a community must come together in solidarity and ensure that no survivor of abuse is alone as they seek safety.?
But these life-saving programs are only possible with the support of people like you.?So this October, ask yourself what you can do to help someone escaping domestic violence. Consider?giving your time?to prepare a meal in one of A New Leaf’s domestic violence shelters. Think about?making a donation?to provide shelter for a family fleeing abuse. Use your resources to help bring more awareness to this important issue.
Most importantly though, I want to thank you for all that you do. Your kindness and generosity protects children and families from domestic violence, saving the lives of thousands of survivors in our community. I cannot tell you what an impact that makes.
Sincerely,
Joe Dulin
Chief Philanthropy Officer
----
October 2022 Impact News: Asta is Alive Today Thanks to You
Asta was in her late 50’s when she experienced an abusive relationship that nearly ended her life. Thanks to supporters like you, Asta was able to find safe shelter at A New Leaf as she worked to put her life back together.
A few years ago, Asta fell in love with a person she thought she could trust. At the age of nearly 60 she thought that she and her partner were a bit older, that they would treat one another with respect and dignity. For a while this was true, Asta and her husband were happy.
But a few months after their wedding things began to change. Her husband started calling her at all times of the day, demanding to know where she was and what she was doing. He started to control many aspects of her life from her schedule, to what she could eat, to who she could see.?
The abuse escalated quickly, and soon Asta’s husband was pushing her, threatening her, tracking her phone, and keeping her away from friends and family. As the verbal and physical abuse got worse, Asta began to fear for her life.
Her husband told her that he would kill her if she ever tried to leave him, and explained exactly how he would end her life. Asta knew things had to change and prepared to leave, but before she could, things took a turn for the worst.?
“He attacked me one night when I came home. Now he’s a big guy, six foot five, 250 pounds – and he threw all of his weight into me when I turned away during an argument. I fell hard and nearly split my head open on a wall. At my age, that could have killed me. Easily.”?
Asta didn’t wait a second longer to escape, she knew that if she stayed she would die. When her husband was out of town for work, she packed everything she owned into her car and called A New Leaf’s 24-Hour Hotline. A few hours later, Asta was welcomed into A New Leaf’s Autumn House Domestic Violence Shelter.?
“When I got to Autumn House, I just broke down. After being alone and tortured by this man for so long, I finally had people around me that would help me, protect me. I can’t tell you what it meant to know that people out there cared enough to help save my life.”?
Thanks to supporters like you, Asta was immediately provided with counseling to overcome the trauma she had experienced. She began working with a personal advocate to make a safety plan that would allow her to stay hidden from her husband and achieve independence. A few months later, Asta is thriving. She is safe, living with family, working a new job, and wants to share her story with the people that helped her through her darkest time.?
“If people like you hadn’t given your support to places like Autumn House, I may have died. But I’m alive today thanks to you. I will spend the rest of my life thanking everyone who helped me escape that horrible situation. So thank you, truly, for saving my life.”?
----
October 2022 Volunteer News: Appreciation Luncheon
This September our Volunteer Team celebrated a growing community of dedicated volunteers by throwing an appreciation event to show thanks!?Volunteers, interns, and board members are the people that make community organizations like A New Leaf possible. We count on these generous individuals to help survivors of domestic violence, families experiencing homelessness, and so many more.
With over 80 volunteers in attendance, this event brought together some of the very best people that serve through A New Leaf.?Volunteers from A New Leaf’s domestic violence shelters, donation center, homeless shelters, community programs, and more came together to network and recognize one another. A New Leaf truly believes that true change in our community starts through volunteering!
As our Volunteer Team looks to the future, we plan for massive growth!?With more community needs than ever, we are counting on generous volunteers to make an impact. With more opportunities to come, we welcome any individual or group to consider donating their time and talents to improving our local community. See photos from the event at THIS LINK.
Paying Tribute to Past Volunteers
Susan Eisler Changed Lives
Susan was a volunteer with A New Leaf serving survivors of Domestic Violence at Faith House shelter for nearly 30 years. She dedicated countless hours to collecting donations of clothing, fundraising to support the shelter, and advocating for survivors in the community. She holds the record for the most hours ever served by a volunteer at A New Leaf. She will be deeply missed.
Dorothy's Legacy of Kindness
Dorothy's Legacy of Kindness
Dorothy’s granddaughter Jessica found shelter from homelessness at La Mesita Family Shelter in the 1990’s. This was the first time Dorothy had heard of such community programs, and she instantly wanted to help. For 20 years Dorothy (pictured in the middle) served as a volunteer with A New Leaf, and was known for her sweet attitude and words. She will be remembered for her endless warmth and kindness.
----
October 2022 Donation Center News: What to Donate this Fall
This October we are asking generous supporters like you to donate items that will support?A New Leaf’s domestic violence shelters!?We need your help to collect the food, bedding, clothing, toys, and more needed to help thousands of families and individuals facing?domestic violence?this holiday season.?
The holidays always see a rise in domestic violence, and we need your help to be prepared to give safety and shelter to survivors.?Our?Donation Center?is in most need of holiday gifts and supplies (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas), women’s hygiene products, personal hygiene kits (toothpaste, deodorant, soaps, etc.), new women’s and children’s clothing, new bedding materials, and more.?
Donation drives are critical to A New Leaf’s life-saving programs. They provide the most essential needs for the children, individuals, and families who are most in need in our community. You can help make sure that every family facing domestic violence is able to find safety and stability. Together we can end domestic violence and make sure families have a safe, stable home.
----
October 2022 Donor News: Gifts of Real Estate Are Transformative
Betty and John gave back through real estate!
As longtime supporters, Betty and John knew their local community benefited significantly from the work of A New Leaf and they wanted to help. However, they were nearing retirement and the thought of making a large cash gift at this time in their life seemed risky.
While speaking with their financial advisor they settled on making a gift of real estate, a 4-unit apartment complex they had owned and managed for 30 years. In addition to taking the management load off their plates, their plan would help reduce their taxes, provide them income, and allow for a significant gift to A New Leaf.
By using their apartment complex to fund a charitable remainder trust, Betty and John were able to minimize any capital gains taxes, receive income for life and make a transformational gift in support of the work A New Leaf does to help individuals and families in crisis.
Have you Considered a Gift of Real Estate?
Have you thought of donating real estate and talked yourself out of it because it seems too complicated? While there are a few steps to making it happen, there are many benefits to both you and A New Leaf, and we are here to help.
Do you have a vacation home, rental or even a commercial property that is becoming too much for you to manage? Did you know, by gifting A New Leaf an asset of this nature, or even a portion of it, prior to it being sold, you can reduce or even eliminate the tax liability, secure future income and make an unforgettable gift to serve those most in need.
It all begins with a conversation. We encourage you to reach out to us, so together we can explore charitable planning strategies that can benefit you as well as A New Leaf. Contact Brad Harris at?(602) 320-1185?or?[email protected]?for more information about making gifts of real estate or establishing a charitable remainder trust.
----
October 2022 Community Partner News:?Bank of America Supports Survivors
The Growing Threat of Domestic Violence
Currently it is estimated that?1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. This alone is heart-breaking, but the implications of these numbers go beyond the personal pain and suffering endured.?
The Department of Labor reports that?victims of domestic violence lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the U.S., resulting in a $1.8 billion loss in productivity for employers. Yet, according to research conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, 65% of companies do not have a formal workplace domestic violence prevention policy and only 20% offer training on domestic violence.
Individuals experiencing domestic violence are often cut off from friends and family, often times as a control tactic by an abuser, and sometimes by the victim’s choice because they are ashamed. A victim’s workplace could be the one place where someone is able to spot the signs and offer help, whether it’s a supervisor or a colleague that takes notice of the signs of abuse.
Bank of America’s Life Event Services
A New Leaf is proud to partner with one company that is committed to supporting those impacted by domestic violence, starting with their own employees.?Bank of America’s?Life Event Services?is one example of why they were named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2021 by Fortune magazine.?
Bank of America’s Life Event Services team provides support for employees and their loved ones impacted by domestic violence, including teen dating violence, relationship violence, and intimate partner violence.?October 2022 marks Bank of America’s ninth annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Campaign, which reaches on average, more than 5,000 employees each year.?A New Leaf has been a local partner for more than five years and has also been included in National platform sessions.
Some of the services available to bank employees include 24/7 confidential counseling at no cost, financial support for employees experiencing a financial hardship resulting from a sudden and unexpected event including domestic violence, providing access to experienced attorneys, and access to no cost back-up care when a primary caregiver is temporarily unavailable.?
A New Leaf is grateful for?Bank of America’s partnership and for serving as a model for how employers can support survivors of domestic violence. Employers are legally obligated to create and maintain a safe work environment and they should have policies, procedures, training, and resources in place for responding to and supporting employees experiencing domestic violence.?
A New Leaf welcomes the opportunity to partner with local corporations to establish this support for employees in need of services.?Please contact A New Leaf’s Director of Community Engagement, Laura Bode, at?[email protected]?for more information and to find out how a corporate contribution can make an important impact in our community.
----
October 2022 A New Leaf Event: With One Voice Luncheon
It is our pleasure to invite you to A New Leaf’s first annual With One Voice Luncheon, benefitting survivors of domestic violence served by A New Leaf. All proceeds from this event will go to support A New Leaf’s?24-hour domestic violence hotline,?3 domestic violence shelters,?Valley-wide court advocacy?programming,?trauma counseling services, and more.
You can view event details and register for this event below:
Contact Kelly Snyder at?[email protected]?or?480-464-4648?if you would like to get more involved, sponsor the event, or if you have any questions.