St. Vincent's Rape Crisis Program Observes 30 Years of Service
08/12/2008
-- Tony Cangelosi, Jeannine Otis and Karin Okada to headline benefit with an evening of cabaret --
Contact: Mary Mooney
212/604-2675
July 9th, 2008, New York, NY - St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan's esteemed Rape Crisis Program will observe its 30th anniversary with a benefit honoring the history and success of one of the city's first rape crisis programs on Wednesday, July 9th at St. Mark's Church. The evening will feature dinner, open bar, a silent auction, and jazz and cabaret music with Tony Cangelosi, Jeannine Otis and Karin Okada and a special guest appearance by Steve Ross, once named the 'Crown Prince of New York Cabaret' by the New York Times.
Founded in 1977, the program was established to ensure that sensitive medical attention is given in the emergency room and clinics to survivors of rape. Over the years, the dedicated staff at St. Vincent's has worked hard to expand the program to recruit and train over 500 community residents to volunteer and provide rape crisis counseling. More than 500 patients receive help from the program and its volunteers every year.
The program offers individual and family psychotherapy, prevention and education workshops, and self defense classes. 'This is truly an extraordinary program. But we would be nowhere without our dedicated volunteers. Many times, our volunteers are called to duty at three in the morning to help a rape victim in the ER and walk the family members through the process of such a horrible tragedy. And we look to the members of our community for their support to keep this program running and that is why this benefit is so important,' says Christine Fowley, Director of the St. Vincent's Rape Crisis Program.
About St. Vincent's Hospital Rape Crisis Program
Saint Vincent's Hospital Rape Crisis Program established in 1977 offers crisis counseling, advocacy and support to victims of sexual assault. Trained volunteers are on call to the emergency rooms of two NYC hospitals. Experienced trauma therapists provide short-term individual and group counseling to rape and childhood sexual abuse survivors. Counseling is available to people who has been seen in the emergency rooms of Saint Vincent's Hospital Manhattan and NY Downtown Hospital. Program services are also available to those who live, work, or were assaulted in Lower Manhattan (south of 34th St). Survivors from other parts of the city who need services not available in their communities can also be seen at the program. Staff and volunteers are trained to be sensitive to the needs of gay, lesbian, male, elderly, and /or disabled survivors. Trainings, group counseling, and consultation services are available to the greater metropolitan area.
About Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers
Saint Vincent's is anchored by St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, an academic medical center located in Greenwich Village; St. Vincent's Westchester, a behavioral health hospital in Westchester County; and continuing care services that include two skilled nursing facilities in Brooklyn, another on Staten Island, a hospice, and a home health agency serving the Metropolitan New York area. Its behavioral health services also provide supportive housing programs for people with mental illness throughout the Metropolitan area. The system became affiliated with St. Vincent's Midtown Hospital (formerly St. Clare's) in 2003. Saint Vincent's is the designated provider for the New York and New Jersey region of the US Family Health Plan sponsored by the US Department of Defense.
Saint Vincent's serves as the academic medical center of New York Medical College in New York City. The healthcare organization is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn and the president of the Sisters of Charity of New York.
