BOSTON, Oct. 20, 2014—A Domestic Violence Awareness Month event raised more than $2,000 to support the city’s largest provider of services to survivors of domestic violence, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

Wednesday night’s benefit for Casa Myrna Vazquez generated $2,272 in ticket sales and raffle purchases. The event was organized by Christine Berardino and Kerry Kolditz of the DA’s Victim Witness Assistance Program to ensure that survivors have access to Casa Myrna’s lifesaving services, which include shelter, housing assistance, financial literacy education, counseling, and legal advocacy to help them escape abusive households and achieve self-sufficiency. 

Kerry Kolditz (far left) and Christine Berardino (far right) of Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley’s Victim Witness Assistance Program flank Raquel Rosenblatt, director of development for Casa Myrna Vasquez, and Conley at a fundraiser that brought in more than $2,000 to provide services to victims and survivors of domestic violence. The Oct. 15 event was held as the Conley’s office observes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Casa Myrna also operates the SafeLink Hotline, the only statewide toll-free domestic violence hotline, which responds to nearly 30,000 calls each year, and educates teens and adults across the Commonwealth via workshops, daily social media posts and annual mass transit ad campaigns.

“Part of ending domestic violence is raising awareness about it,” Conley said. “It’s making clear to victims and survivors that they’re not alone, and it’s making clear to abusers and others that it’s unacceptable in any relationship. Casa Myrna is absolutely instrumental in those efforts. They’ve been a valuable resource for countless people in countless circumstances. I’m honored to support them and help ensure that the vital services they offer remain available for those in crisis,” Conley said.

Casa Myrna was founded in 1977 by volunteers in Boston’s South End to provide a safe haven for women who were being abused by their husbands and partners, often in front of their children. The organization was named for Myrna Vazquez, an actress and activist who organized members of South End’s Puerto Rican community.

In addition to Suffolk prosecutors and victim advocates, attendees included Casa Myrna leadership staff, members of the Boston, Chelsea, and Revere police departments, and others. It was held at the Bell in Hand Tavern in downtown Boston, which contributed the space for the event. Many local business also generously donated raffle prizes for guests to help raise funds.

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