WHAT:
YWCA Greater Harrisburg and Renewal by Andersen of Central PA join forces to kick off 130th anniversary of the YWCA and to spread awareness and understanding around sexual assault and human trafficking at Educational “Renewal Cares” Breakfast.
WHO:
Steven Turner, Anti-Human Trafficking Consultant with the YWCA and Former Prosecutor
Mary Quinn, President/CEO, YWCA of Greater Harrisburg
Rhonda Hendrickson, Chief Operating Officer, YWCA of Greater Harrisburg
Joe Zisman, Owner/President, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA
Scott Brodkorb, CEO, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA
Linda Johnston, Chief Culture Officer, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA
Employees of Renewal by Andersen of Central PA from Mechanicsburg headquarters, Williamsport and Altoona
WHEN: Wednesday, April 3, 2024/9 – 11 a.m.
WHERE: Penn Harris, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill, Pa.
WHY: On any given night, more than 100 women and children live at the YWCA Greater Harrisburg. Many are escaping violence, including domestic abuse and human trafficking. The YWCA Greater Harrisburg Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs offer a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Last year, the YWCA’s VIP and free civil legal services programs provided services to more than 6,500 individuals. Every year, through all of its programs (violence intervention and prevention, civil legal services, housing, supported employment, veterans and more) the YWCA serves more than 35,000 individuals in the Capital Region. To learn more, visit www.ywcahbg.org.
Renewal by Andersen of Central PA takes pride in being difference-makers who invest in people, causes, events and non-profits to transform individual lives and communities where their employees live, work, shop and dine, through their “Renewal Cares” initiatives. RbA will support the YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s 130th Anniversary and mission throughout the year.
“The YWCA Greater Harrisburg is pleased to team up with Renewal by Andersen of Central PA to celebrate 130 years of serving women, children and families of the Harrisburg region,” said Mary Quinn, CEO of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg. “We are grateful to Joe, Linda, Scott and the RbA Team and are honored they are here. Renewal recognizes the importance of educating their employees to identify the signs of sexual abuse and human trafficking and to help spread awareness. Their employees work throughout our communities on a daily basis They, along with the public, can provide an extra set of eyes and ears to help law enforcement stem the flow of human trafficking and sexual assault victims. We hope other employers follow RbA’s lead and join us.”
“Human trafficking, sexual assault, child abuse and domestic violence are sadly happening everywhere including right here in Central PA. Renewal cares and we care as corporate and industry leaders and as individuals. Our voices have power and we are pleased to join forces with Mary and the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg to celebrate their life-saving work. It’s a testament to their commitment that 130 years later, they still uplift and support women, children and families while creating greater public awareness and education around these important issues. We call on fellow business leaders and individuals to join us in this vital mission to save lives,” said Linda Johnston, Chief Culture Office, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA.
“Together, we can provide hope, healing and resources by supporting the YWCA and victims of these tragic crimes. We all have a responsibility to use our resources to build safe communities, an educated workforce and to encourage other businesses and individuals to get involved, donate or volunteer with organizations like the YWCA. Our goal is to create greater awareness and education around these critical issues happening here in Central PA, and to enlist our colleagues to join us because Renewal cares,” said Joe Zisman, Owner/President, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA.
THE FACTS:
About Sexual Assault
We are kicking off Sexual Assault Awareness Month together. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is an opportunity to create connected, informed communities, to honor the resiliency and healing of survivors and to highlight this very important issue.
- Every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted (U.S. Department of Justice).
- More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience sexual violence (CDC).
- One in three female victims of rape (or attempted) and one in four male victims experienced it for the first time between the ages of 11 and 17 (National Sexual Violence Resource Center).
- One in five women and one in sixteen men are sexually assaulted while in college, 90% go unreported.
- 90% of homeless women report experiencing sexual abuse at some point in their lifetime.
About Human Trafficking
According to the national human trafficking hotline, Pennsylvania ranks 9th in the nation for the most reported cases of human trafficking.
- In 2021, 10,359 situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline involving 16,554 individual victims. Shocking as these numbers are, they are likely only a fraction of the actual problem. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises.
- There are nearly 24.9 million victims of human trafficking in the world today. Millions are children. Human trafficking is a $150 billion a-year global business. The U.S. is one of the top destinations for human trafficking and among the largest for consumers of child sex.
- Many victims are being forced into sex trafficking or labor trafficking. Many are drug addicts.
“We all have a mission to be difference-makers and Renewal cares about our communities and families. We are out in the community so much that it’s important to educate our employees with essential information about what to do if they ever encounter a situation warranting further action. Thanks to places like the YWCA, supportive services and resources are available to assist victims in getting, housing, employment, mental health, childcare and legal services to safely rebuild their lives,” Scott Brodkorb, CEO, Renewal by Andersen of Central PA.
About the Speaker:
Steven Turner has been involved in tackling sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking since 1998. He has been an employee of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg to assist survivors and now works as a consultant with them. He has worked as part of the team spearheading the Pennsylvania Alliance Against Trafficking in Humans – Route 15, a U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime 12-county Anti – Trafficking program headquartered at the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg. Previously, Steve worked in the PA Governor’s Office of General Counsel and was a prosecuting attorney.