2012 Mad Hatter Tickets on Sale Now!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Pinnacle at Symphony Place

To purchase your tickets, please click here: Mad Hatter Tickets

Congratulations Sandy Madsen, Winner of the 2012 Visionary Voice Award

Sandy is a role model for men and women as survivor, advocator, volunteer, speaker, and author. She has used her sexual assault experience to challenge herself and to educate the public about healing from this crime.

She has used her affluence to gender support by speaking out and touching those who think sexual assault can not touch them. She has been involved financially helping The Sexual Assault Center of Middle Tennessee and the United Way in Williamson County. Both organizations have asked her to speak to the media to help open the pockets of those with the ability to help financially. Her family has donated their time and talents. They have financially encouraged companies and individuals to do the same to support this cause.

In Sandy’s words, “My sole mission was and is to reach out to all who have had to go through the horrors of rape, surviving and going on with their lives with dignity and courage. Most survivors are ashamed and hide, not telling anyone and they never reach out for help. I will be the face and voice for those who suffer, giving them information where and how to get help and how to start the healing process. As a survivor, I wondered why God had this happen to me. It did not take me long to discover that I'm a strong person by nature. I could make a difference by speaking for those who were afraid. If I could help just one person, I was a success. Then it also became a realization that this could encourage many, many survivors to get help. Plus the more rapes reported, the more abusers can be caught and put away."

Darlene Vastano, Winner of the 2012 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Award

Darlene Vastano, begins her 10th year of service as a Volunteer Crisis Line Counselor at the Sexual Assault Center. In addition to her volunteer efforts at SAC, Darlene, volunteers on four child review boards for the Davidson County Department of Children’s Services: Board for Adoption Approval, Dependent and Neglect Child Review Board, Juvenile Justice Review Board and the Foster Childcare Review Board. Darlene is entering her eleventh year as a volunteer for the Davidson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). It is through her work at CASA, that Darlene was led to volunteer with the SAC. Darlene’s passion for helping children in need came over 11 years ago, when she witnessed the unfair treatment of her son’s middle school class mate being “bullied” by the school’s assistant principal. At that moment, she knew that she needed to be a voice for children and help children in any way possible. She was led to volunteer at CASA. While volunteering for CASA, she was privileged to work with a child that had been sexually abused. To quote Darlene: “The Sexual Assault Center had such a profound impact on this child. All kids deserve this type of recovery, and I had to be a part of that.” Crisis line counseling is not for everyone. Trauma counseling is not for everyone. Callers are often distraught, suicidal, and feeling hopeless – it can be overwhelming, frustrating and at times discouraging. In the field of trauma work, it is not uncommon for professional counselors to burn out within the first five years of employment. Many volunteers leave the line after one year because of the demands it can have on your personal well-being. With that being said, the simple fact that Darlene has maintained this level of commitment to the SAC for almost ten years, as an unpaid volunteer, is astounding. Darlene’s passion for helping children and those that care for children continues to be the driving force behind her dedication to the SAC. In her nearly ten years of service, she has contributed 2,200 hours of her time to helping those in need.

Photos of Sandy and Darlene are courtesy of Joan McGee Photography

Thank you Safe at Last Sponsors!

We’d like to thank our gracious donors for their tremendous efforts in helping support Safe @ Last. If it weren’t for these supporters, we would not be able to have such an important program available for students K-6th grade. Safe at Last provides children with the tools to recognize sexual abuse. For more information on how to implement this program in your school, please contact Stacey Williams at 259.9055 ext. 314 or by emailing her at swilliams@sacenter.org
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Safe at Last Sponsors:

Cal Turner Foundation
HCA
Nashville Predators
Verizon
United Healthcare
United Way of Davidson County
United Way of Williamson County