philanthropy

We are happy to announce that the recipient of this year's WIL Gives Back Grant is Shelterhouse of Midland and Gladwin Counties. Women in Leadership has pledged to contribute $10,000 to their new SANE room development. We will be rewarding the check to the Shelterhouse at the 1st Annual WIL Gala: A Gatsby Prom. This will be a record contribution for Women in Leadership, and WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

What is a SANE room? 

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), 43.6% of women in the United States experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, and Michigan alone has the fourth highest rate of reported rapes in the country. However, even with these staggering numbers, a majority of sexual assaults go unreported, according to the National Sexual Assault Hotline. This means that the actual number of sexual assault victims is much higher, though survivors choose not to report their experiences for a vast array of reasons.

At Shelterhouse, they want survivors to feel comfortable and empowered to seek help after experiencing sexual violence or assault without compromising their privacy or personal wishes. One way that they can accomplish this is by offering free and confidential Sexual Assault Nurse Examinations (SANE exams).

SANE exams are often the first step in a survivor’s healing journey before rising above the impacts of trauma caused by sexual violence. Working to remove the physical, financial, and mental barriers that inhibit survivors’ full-person healing encourages survivors to pursue meaningful connections, goals and ambitions, and comprehensive personal growth. By partnering with Shelterhouse on this initiative, Women in Leadership would be playing an active role in supporting survivors’ long-term goals of healing and self-sufficiency.

SANE suite construction began in June 2022, with hopes of completion in the fall of 2022. After construction is completed, numerous items are necessary to furnish and equip this suite in order to serve survivors: a medical examination bed, waiting area for friends/family/advocates, etc. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for October 2022 when the suite is officially open to serving survivors. After the construction project itself is completed, the suite will remain an ongoing project with continuous needs: A SANE-certified team of nurses and trained advocates, medical supplies, clothing for survivors to change into, etc.

We invite you to support this project by helping us to create a booklet of letters, personal notes, advice, or words of affirmation that would be housed within the SANE suite for survivors to read. Statistically, we know that 1 out of every 3 women is a survivor of sexual violence, and reading words “from survivors, to survivors” can be monumental for victims of sexual violence in their moment of crisis.

At Shelterhouse they believe that survivors are some of the strongest and bravest among us, but for many survivors going through a SANE exam immediately following their traumatic event, hope and optimism are hard to achieve.

Seeing hand-written evidence that strong, capable, and successful women can overcome the trauma of sexual assault and lead beautiful and fulfilling lives can be a beacon of hope for the survivors we serve here at Shelterhouse, and would help encourage them to pursue full-person healing following sexual violence.

Click Here to Submit Your Personal Message of Hope

Last years WIL Gives Back was be Ascension St. Mary's Foundation - Wig Room. The Wig room was developed to help men and women feel beautiful during treatments. Patients have the opportunity to visit the room and select, at no charge, wigs, hats, scarfs, eyebrow kits and other comforting supplies. The goal of the Wig Room is to help patients feel beautiful and fit into society without people staring at them and wondering if they are sick.

We donated $6,300 to meet the budget requirements needed to make this project a success.