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El Paso-area Allstate agency owners will collect critical supplies through November 16 to benefit the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence and the domestic violence survivors they serve.

The most-needed items include shampoo, body wash, bar soap, baby wipes, and diapers, and a full list can be found at online.

Domestic violence programs across the country frequently lack sufficient funding and often operate with limited resources. Through their volunteer efforts of hosting supply drives, the agency owners will secure an Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grant which will enable the Center Against Sexual & Family Violence to further its work in the community.

Community members can drop off items for donation at the following Allstate locations:

• Bianca Alderette: 12798 Egemere Blvd., Unit G, El Paso
• Daniel Andrus: 1605 George Dieter Drive, Suite 308, El Paso
• Daniel Corona: 158 Joe Battle Blvd., Suite 106, El Paso
• Ricardo Estrada: 3660 George Dieter, Suite A, El Paso
• Myrna Faz: 3800 N. Mesa St., Suite A1, El Paso
• Arturo Gonzalez: 5255 Transmountain, Suite 3, El Paso
• Eric Kent: 5909 N. Mesa St., El Paso
• Rudy Ledesma: 6801 N. Mesa St., Suite B206, El Paso
• Rudy Ledesma: 6822 Gateway Blvd. E, Suite D-6, El Paso
• Ericka Leon: 3010 Saulkeinfield, Suite C, El Paso
• Lupe Maldonado-Thrasher: 10420 Montwood Drive, Suite F, El Paso
• Eva Martinez: 1810 Trawood, Suite C, El Paso
• Gilbert Martinez: 12302 Montana Ave., Suite 702, El Paso
• Mark McGee: 657 Horizon Blvd., Suite K, Socorro
• Roy Portillo: 1320 N. Yarbrough, El Paso
• Julio Segura: 1237 Lomaland Drive, Suite D, El Paso
• Elizabeth Torres: 1801 N. Zaragosa, Suite E, El Paso
• Zulema Valles: 4301 Montana Ave., Suite B, El Paso

One in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime regardless of socio-economic background or ethnicity. Financial abuse occurs in 99 percent of all domestic violence cases.

Since 2005, The Allstate Foundation, through its Purple Purse initiative, has invested over $60 million to raise public awareness of domestic violence and financial abuse and has empowered more than 1.3 million survivors on the road to safety and security through financial education resources.

The supply drives are part of a multi-city Allstate Foundation Purple Purse effort to raise awareness and help domestic violence nonprofits in 15 cities across Texas.

On Friday, the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV) named David Chayer its new Executive Director.

“It’s a great win for our community and the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence that we were able to hire someone with as much experience and passion as David Chayer,” said CASFV Board President Debbie Hamlyn. “We know that his leadership and experience will help CASFV to continue to provide hope and assistance to families in need.”

Chayer has over 19 years of nonprofit leadership and management experience including over 14 years with the American Red Cross in multiple senior leadership positions across the country.

Most recently he served as the Executive Director for the El Paso and Southern New Mexico Chapter. He has also held positions as Regional Chief Operating Officer in Dallas, Regional Chief Executive Officer in Tallahassee, Florida, Senior Director of Chapter Operations at the Red Cross National Headquarters, and Executive Director in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Chayer began his Red Cross career as the State Director of Government and External Relations in Illinois. In 2006, he was selected to serve on the Red Cross Presidential Advisory Council, providing chapter insight and policy recommendations to the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.

In addition to his time with the American Red Cross, Chayer has also served as the Executive Director for The ALS Association Texas Chapter where he led statewide efforts in the battle against Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Chayer succeeds Stephanie Karr, who is retiring as CASFV’s Executive Director at the end of the year. Karr has been Executive Director since 2008. Karr spent more than a decade helping thousands of families in crisis, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support CASFV’s work.

“David is more than qualified to take the reigns for CASFV in 2019 and beyond,” Karr said. “I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done and I’m proud of the fact that CASFV’s board of directors was able to recruit such a strong candidate to fill the position.”

Before joining the nonprofit world, Chayer worked for six years in state and local government in Illinois, including positions with the Office of the Lt. Governor, and the Illinois General Assembly. In 2000, Chayer was elected to the Divernon Village Board. He has also served as an Adjunct Instructor at Blackburn College where he taught state and local government.

“I have a deep appreciation for the work that CASFV does, not only providing assistance, but also hope, to families in the El Paso region,” said David Chayer. “I look forward to serving as Executive Director on behalf of the CASFV board and picking up where Stephanie left off to help continue the hard work being done for families in crisis.”

Originally from St. Anne, Illinois, Chayer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Blackburn College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
He has one daughter, Katelyn, and two grandsons, Wesley and Owen.

The Texas Bar Foundation awarded the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence $10,000.00 in support of legal and immigration advocacy for survivors of sexual and family violence.

“We are honored to once again receive the generous $10,000.00 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation,” said Stephanie Karr, CASFV executive director. “We know that those impacted by sexual and family violence face many challenges that become more complex as an immigrant. Their support of our Legal and Immigrant Advocacy for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program serves as encouragement that immigrant survivors will continue to have a safe place to seek assistance.”

The immigration advocacy program recently received full accreditation as the only family violence center and non-profit that is accredited by the Board of the Immigration Appeals (BIA). With this accreditation, CASFV is able to expedite services to clients as it relates to assistance via the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and U-VISA’s

CASFV impact (fiscal year 2016-2017):

• 952 people sought emergency shelter
• 2,877 sought support through our Family Resource Center
• Together CASFV served 3,829, of which 1,101 individuals received support from the Legal and Immigrant Advocacy for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program

CASFV is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to confront and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault as an advocate for safety and justice through intervention, education, and community collaboration.

24-Hour Crisis Hopeline is 915-593-7300 or 1-800-727-0511.

On Thursday, the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV) was awarded $750,000 from the Office on Violence Against Women.

CASFV, in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Paso, the El Paso Child Guidance Center and the  El Paso Independent School District, will initiate new and continue and enhance existing strategies to provide intervention services and prevention work targeting youth. Collectively they will be known as the Youth Without Violence Collaborative.

“We are excited for this opportunity to form a collaborative with our community partners,” said Stephanie Karr, CASFV executive director. “Each institution, including CASFV, are the experts in their line of work. Our partnership will provide youth with an array of services in domestic violence, mentoring and trauma informed care.”

The collaborative will form a coordinated care team to develop, expand, and strengthen prevention strategies and intervention services that target children, youth and young adults who are victims of and/or exposed to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, including support for non-abusing parents and caregivers.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is excited to collaborate with EPISD, CASFV and Child Guidance Center on this project to provide mentoring support to youth who have been affected by domestic violence,” said Bobbi Jo Ortiz, Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Paso president.

“Mentorship is a powerful tool to help respond to the overwhelming issues associated with domestic violence. We are proud to come together with our partners to deliver an innovative and progressive approach to addressing a major concern in our community.”

On May 31, 1977 four courageous El Paso women founded the organization that would grow into the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV). Now, officials with CASFV invite the community to join with them as they honor our 40-year history and pay tribute to the countless individuals whose efforts have transformed generations of El Paso Families.

“We are truly honored to have served the community for 40 years,” said Stephanie Karr, CASFV executive director. “However, our work is a reflection of the thousands of people whom we have guided on their own path to independence and empowerment. As our future unfolds we will remain steadfast in our commitment to provide a safe haven and advocate for justice for those affected by sexual and family violence.”

El Paso County Judge, Veronica Escobar, will give the keynote address to help CASFV commemorate 40 years of service to the community.

CASFV’s Founding Day Breakfast will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at The Venue located on 511 Western Street.

For more information on Founding Day Breakfast or to purchase tickets, please visit www.casfv.org and R.S.V.P. by Monday, May 29, 2017. Tickets are available for $10 per person.

The Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV) was awarded $100,000 from the Avon Foundation for Women.

CASFV was one of 15 grantees from around the nation and the only organization from Texas and the southwest to be funded. The grant will fund a public awareness campaign that will engage the Latino community by providing unique bilingual resources with a wide variety of creative and educational assets.

“With the help of our local partners and the AVON Foundation for Women, the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence will able to expand our services even further than before,” said CASFV Executive Director, Stephanie Karr. “El Paso is the largest community on the U.S./ Mexico border and with this grant the campaign has the opportunity to be a huge success.”

The focus on Latinos emerged from the findings of “The NO MÁS Study: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in the U.S. Latin@ Community,” commissioned by the Avon Foundation for Women for Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network and NO MORE and was conducted by Lake Research Partners.

This study uncovered that 83% of Latinos in the U.S. are willing to talk with their children and the children in their lives about domestic violence and sexual assault. The strongest messages that resonated with Latinos were centered on starting young, providing a better life for their children and family values.

“I am honored to be working with a company that continues to play such a pivotal role in liberating survivors of domestic and sexual abuse,” said AVON District Sales Manager, Virginia Morales. “In just over 10 years, AVON has worked especially hard to bring awareness and services to victims of domestic violence, and now sexual assault as well. As a district sales manager for AVON and a survivor of domestic violence, I am dedicated to encouraging others to come forward, speak out and empower themselves.”

Informed by the NO MÁS Study, CASFV will develop a campaign, in partnership with Sanders\Wingo Advertising, to engage the Latino community in conversations about these issues and to take action to address them within their families and communities. To this end, CASFV has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide additional community support.

“We are proud to partner with the Avon Foundation and the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence in order to raise awareness about saying ‘No Más’ to domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Paso CEO Bobbi Jo Ortiz.