NEWBURYPORT — The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center’s 34th Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence will take place on Sunday, Oct. 5, at Waterfront Park, 1 Market Square, Newburyport.
Check-in starts at 9 a.m., with the scenic 3-mile walk around Newburyport stepping off at 10 a.m. The center invites all to join in and raise awareness about domestic violence and support its vital programs.
The annual Walk held during October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month is one of the center’s largest fundraisers, with a goal of raising $110,000. Funds directly support the organization’s wide range of services for survivors across 16 local communities, including: 24-hour emergency hotline; crisis counseling for adults and children; art therapy; court advocacy and legal representation; and housing assistance.
“The Walk Against Domestic Violence is not just a fundraiser – it’s a powerful statement that we, as a community, stand together to support survivors and advocate for an end to domestic violence. The funds raised from this event directly enable us to continue providing vital resources and services to those in need, empowering survivors and fostering hope for a future free from abuse,” Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center CEO Suzanne Dubus said.
Registration is free, and participants can register online at jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org to set up a personalized fundraising page. Fundraisers raising $100 or more will receive a commemorative cross-body bag; those raising $500 or more will earn an insulated backpack cooler, and those who raise $1,000 or more will be awarded a plush ultra-soft blanket. The deadline to receive these items at the walk is Oct. 3
Walkers of all ages are welcome, and leashed canine companions are encouraged to join. Prizes will be awarded to individuals and teams who raise the most funds.
Since 1982, the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center has been helping individuals and families impacted by domestic violence. What first began as the compassionate mission of several volunteer parishioners of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport has grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit organization.
Locally, the center serves adult and child survivors of domestic violence from Newburyport to the Merrimack Valley and provides an Intimate Partner Abuse Education Program, a 40-week program certified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for people who use violence in an intimate relationship. Nationally, the Geiger Institute operates as a division of the Center and provides tools and strategies to reduce domestic violence homicides across the country.
The mission of the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is to empower individuals and engage communities to end domestic violence. For more information, visit www.jeannegeiger.org or call the 24-hour confidential hotline at 978-388-1888.
For additional information about the event, contact Vanessa Ayersman at vayersman@jeannegeiger.org.