Banknorth Charitable Foundation Helps Rape Crisis Center

Banknorth Charitable Foundation took a strong and generous stand in support of area rape crisis and assault services recently when it made a significant contribution to the YWCA’s Rape Crisis Center.

The Center had remained open despite severe cuts in state funding during the months of June through December 2003.

The Banknorth Charitable Foundation funding helped the YWCA re-organized its response systems to continue its service to victims in their time of need. The YWCA collaborated with three other rape crisis centers in the state to jointly staff a 24-hour hotline and has recently re-instated its on-call response system to support victims at area hospitals.

"Banknorth Charitable Foundation made its gift at a critically important time," said YWCA Executive Director Rebecca Hall. "Without their generosity, victims and their families would have surely gone unaided. The donation helped us sustain services at a very difficult time."

"Banknorth Massachusetts has a strong commitment to supporting those programs that promote the health and well-being of individuals and families," said Jo-Anne Guiffrida, Senior Vice President of Banknorth Massachusetts.

The YWCA Rape Crisis Center helps, on average, a new victim survivor every other day. In fiscal year 2003, the Center answered 119 hotline calls, provided 178 victims with counseling, and aided 24 victims at area hospitals. In addition, specially trained YWCA staff educated 2,470 students about healthy behaviors through area high school and college health and leadership programs.

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