Spring 2021
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month; Survivor Speak Out Event; April 8 World Day for Abuse Prevention; Mini-Conference Recordings Available; SNAP's New Board Member; Virtual Screening of "Athlete A" Sponsored by Legislative Reform for Indiana Survivors (LRIS); Unique Ways to Give; SNAP Leaders in the News
April is both Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month, and this year SNAP is joining with the keep kids safe coalition to have a day of action on April 8. There will be multiple events on April 8 in addition to a massive social media challenge, and details for these events and initiatives can be found in this month's newsletter. Read on!
SNAP Joins with The Army of Survivors and Together for Girls for Survivor Speak Out on April 8th!
For our kickoff event this April we are partnering with two great organizations to hold a Survivor Speak Out on April 8th from 2 to 4 PM.
During this event we will be hearing from ten or so survivors who will share their journeys, and will also be reading from stories submitted by other survivors. If you want to participate in this Virtual Speak Out, please register here. Not all who register will be able to speak during the event, but we hope to get as many folks together as possible to share their stories, support those speaking and to help spread the word about the realities of sexual violence this April.
Show the World You Stand With Survivors on April 8 - World Day for Abuse Prevention Social Media Challenge
Challenge steps:
- Start the challenge by taking a photo of your feet, standing wherever you would like.
- Post the picture to Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook (in your normal post feed or your story) from your individual account and/or your organization's account.
- Use the #standwithus in the post.
- Tag @April8WorldDay on Twitter or Instagram, or the World Day for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Healing and Justice Facebook page.
- Write why you stand with April 8 World Day for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Healing and Justice in your post description.
- Tag 3 friends to join the challenge.
Recordings Now Available from Virtual Mini-Conference!
Recordings of each session from our mini-conference are now available to watch so you can catch up on those great talks from Julie Lalonde and Rachel Grant and get a chance to relax on your own time via the soundwash from Jay Taylor.
- Julie Lalonde – The Complexity of Resilience
- Jay Taylor - Soundwash
- Rachel Grant – Five Mindset Shifts
Stay tuned for more information about the other virtual mini-conferences we have planned for this year.
Meet SNAP's New Board Member, Eduardo Lopez De Casas
Eduardo Lopez de Casas is an abuse survivor and is very passionate in his advocacy and representation of fellow victims and their experiences.
Almost 50 years ago, Eduardo was sexually abused first by some of his schoolteachers then later by parish clergy. Not knowing what to do, he willingly shared his experiences with friends. Sadly, nothing was ever done to pursue those who had violated him. Eduardo eventually connected with SNAP, becoming the SNAP Leader in Houston, Texas. Eduardo’s healing journey is now about being able to assist other victims as a SNAP Leader and to advocate for them.
We are thrilled to have Eduardo on our board and look forward to working more closely with him.
Register Now! Virtual Screening of "Athlete A" Sponsored by Legislative Reform for Indiana Survivors (LRIS)
"Athlete A" is a Netlflix documentary about the survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar. In this documentary, we learn how The Indianapolis Star broke this case and exposed the horrific sexual abuse hundreds of girls and young women experienced.
If you are interested in attending this event, register here!
Unique Ways to Give
Many of our SNAP supporters have been greatly helped by our survivor support groups, educational conferences, advocacy activities, and just plain networking with one another. Often, people inquire as to how they can ensure that upcoming generations of sexual-abuse survivors can find healing through the mission and work that SNAP does daily. A simple answer is to consider making a financial gift allocated in the future for the future welfare of others as well as for SNAP.
A Planned Gift is a contribution that is arranged in the present and allocated at a future date, commonly through a will or trust once the donor has passed away. SNAP is dependent upon the thoughtful generosity of its members and friends whose forward-looking philanthropic contributions will ensure the continued success of our organization.
A Bequest or codicil in your will or trust is an easy way to make a planned gift to SNAP. To share the details about your bequest as a source of future funding for SNAP, please complete the attached Bequest Intention Form. Remember that a planned gift, such as a bequest, enables us to honor the past, support the present, and provide for the future.
SNAP Leaders in the News
- Members of SNAP New Zealand are playing a key role in the Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based Institutions to hold church officials in New Zealand accountable.
- SNAP Leaders in North Dakota advocate for HB 1382, which would provide a two-year window to suspend the statute of limitations to file claims against alleged abusers or institutions that protected them.
- SNAP Leader David Lorenz shared his testimony during a hearing with the Maryland General Assembly in an effort to push SOL elimination across the legislative line.
- David Clohessy and other Missouri SNAPpers held a press conference to draw attention to the need for more outreach from Jefferson City church officials.
- Check out this great interview featuring Dianne Darr Couts, leader of MK Safety Net which focuses on Dianne's pioneering work as an advocate to end the abuse of missionary kids.
- Part 1 and Part 2 of these stories feature survivors of nun abuse and how the two largest organizations in the world refuse to work with SNAP in confronting this shame-filled piece of their history.
- Kentucky SNAP Leader Cal Pfieffer was appointed as a member of the Child Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Board. The board's goals and schedule can be found here.
Your friends at SNAP
http://www.snapnetwork.org/
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 2 comments