News & Press Coverage

PRUDENCE CRANDALL CENTER NAMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

January 25, 2012

New Britain, CT - Prudence Crandall Center has announced the appointment of three new members to its board of directors.

 “The staff and current board members are extremely honored to welcome these three highly respected  members of the community to our board of directors and look forward to working together to fulfill our mission of providing safety and vital services to victims of domestic violence,” said Barbara Damon, Executive Director of Prudence Crandall Center.

New members include:

Patrick Garvey
Patrick Garvey is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University and a Certified Public Accountant. He has extensive not-for-profit experience and is currently the Corporate Controller for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.  Mr. Garvey is pleased to bring his financial expertise to Prudence Crandall Center and will use that knowledge as a board member and a member of the organization’s Finance Committee.

Larry Broisman, MD
Dr. Larry Broisman is a graduate of Rutgers College and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School.  His internship and residency were completed at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.  For the past 16 years, Dr. Broisman has been an Internal Medicine practitioner at Grove Hill Medical Center in New Britain. Dr. Broisman is excited for this opportunity to join the board of Prudence Crandall and looks forward to contributing his time and energy to their mission. 

Carolyn Ennis
Carolyn Ennis is a graduate of Oberlin College and the University of Connecticut School of Law. She is currently an attorney with the State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General in the Employment Rights Department. Since 2009, Carolyn has been a member of Prudence Crandall Center's Silent No More Auction Committee and has become familiar with the programs that Prudence Crandall offers.  As a member of the board of directors, she hopes to support these programs to ensure that Prudence Crandall Center has the ability to continue to help those in need.

Their wealth of experience and skills will complement the current 16-member board that oversees Prudence Crandall Center, a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to addressing the needs of victims of domestic violence since 1973.  Prudence Crandall Center is the only domestic violence program serving the towns of New Britain, Bristol, Berlin, Kensington, Plainville, Southington, Burlington, Plymouth, and Terryville, Connecticut. 

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SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF FARMINGTON VALLEY CONTINUES TO AID DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

Farmington Valley, CT – In a time when many organizations have fewer funds to share and are cutting support to aid programs for victims of domestic violence, Soroptimist International of Farmington Valley, CT (SIFV) - a group of women dedicated to helping other women and girls in need – continues to build its relationship with Prudence Crandall Center (PCC), a domestic violence program located in New Britain, CT. 

Recently SIFV was awarded a grant from the regional Soroptimist organization (the Soroptimist International Northeastern Region Janet Pfeiler Advancing the Status of Women grant) of $500 in support of its project entitled “Helping Young Hearts Heal”.  This grant allowed SIFV to purchase paint, tables/chairs and other materials such as books, shelves and storage cubes to create a resource room for youth clients of PCC.  “Creating a special resource area for our youth will truly be instrumental in ‘Helping (their) Young Hearts Heal’ from the trauma of domestic violence,” said Arlene Greco, Prudence Crandall Center’s Director of Development.

“Our relationship with Prudence Crandall Center is strong and we are thrilled that our club continues to have such a positive impact on an organization that offers so many services to women and children,” said Tracy Scala, SIFV president.  “Domestic violence knows no social or economic boundaries and the Center's mission is very much in line with that of Soroptimist - to improve the lives of women and girls.  We have had a relationship with PCC for over 5 years and continue to look for creative ways to support its mission as well as ours.”

Throughout their relationship, SIFV has provided in excess of $20,000 in support to Prudence Crandall Center – through monetary and in-kind contributions. This support includes grant money and funds from fundraising efforts used to purchase computer equipment, beds and bedding, linens and many other items for PCC’s Emergency Shelter residences; ‘welcome kits’ of personal care products for adult females and their infants; and several workshops for the resident women in topics such as self-defense and computer skills.

Currently the club plans to provide 120 welcome kits to PCC and to deliver them by the end of February 2012. SIFV has built partnerships with local businesses to help with this project. Through these partnerships, SIFV has been fortunate to procure tote bags and hand sanitizers from ‘4imprint’ (www.4imprint.com), lotion from the Marriott Residence Inn in Avon, toothbrushes/toothpaste/dental floss from Canton Valley Dental in Canton, and gift cards toward purchases of kit items from Wal-Mart in Avon.

“It’s wonderful to have the support of business partners,” stated Scala. “We’re becoming known within our communities and doors are opening to help us help others.  Providing the items needed to create the youth resource room and welcome kits allows our members to see how they are immediately and directly improving lives.  Several members help deliver items to PCC or offer their time via workshops because doing these things is both personally fulfilling and promotes our mission.”

Soroptimist International of Farmington Valley, CT is a 501(c)(3) organization comprised of a diverse membership of professional and business women who are committed to improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.  For more information about SIFV visit www.soroptimistner.org. 

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2011 Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree Awards

It is our privilege to announce the recipients of the first annual Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree Award. Rev. Crabtree founded Prudence Crandall Center in 1973 - at the time it was only the second organization of its kind in the country. We acknowledge Rev. Crabtree’s passion for helping those in need and her ability to engage and inspire other advocates. The 2011 award recipients are police officers who exemplify dedicated service and a willingness to work in partnership with Prudence Crandall Center to advocate for victims of domestic violence.

Officer John F. Jackman has worked in the Domestic Violence Unit of the New Britain Police Department for nearly five years. Officer Jackman can always be counted on to help the Prudence Crandall team as we work together to ensure safety and access to services. Officer Jackman not only follows the letter of the law, but consistently brings a sense of commitment and compassion that is critical to ensuring the comfort and safety of victims of domestic violence. 

Corporal Patrick J. Buden is always at the other end of the telephone line when we need help or advice from the Plainville Police Department. Corporal Buden helps to ensure that the department is responsive to the needs of victims of domestic violence.  Corporal Buden is often proactive in reaching out to victims when he senses there is a particular need for concern about their safety. Day or night, on duty or not, he is dedicated to helping those in need.

Barbara Damon, Executive Director, Prudence Crandall Center; Officer John Jackman of the New Britain Police Department; Cpl. Patrick Buden of the Plainville Police Department; and Nikita Carmona, PCC’s New Britain Intervention Advocate

The Candlelight Vigil is an annual event that honors survivors of domestic violence and raises awareness of domestic violence in the community. An evening of remembrance, reflection, and renewal. 

2 policemen recognized for efforts against domestic abuse

Bristol Press, Friday, October 14, 2011 8:52 PM EDT
Special to the Press

NEW BRITAIN — Two police officers were honored and 23 victims who lost their lives to domestic violence in 2010 were remembered at Thursday night’s Silent No More candlelight vigil at the Prudence Crandall Center.

“This annual event during Domestic Violence Awareness Month provides a time of reflection to remember those who lost their lives and acknowledges the struggles of the thousands we have helped to save this year,” said Barbara Damon, executive director of the center.

The Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree Award, named after the woman who founded the Prudence Crandall Center in 1973 as the first program of its kind in Connecticut and the second in the nation, was presented to Officer John Jackman of the New Britain Police Department and Cpl. Patrick Buden of the Plainville Police Department. (Read full article)

A silent but powerful message against domestic violence

New Britain Herold, Wednesday, October 5, 2011 10:54 PM EDT
By Lisa Backus, Staff Writer

NEW BRITAIN — The red T-shirt flapping in the autumn breeze Wednesday read, “You killed a part of me but I survived and grew ... and flourish.”

Another shows a portrait of a woman with the words “You will never make me wear dark glasses again.” A third said “They told me it wasn’t my fault ... today I know it’s true.”

The display was part of the Silent No More Exhibit sponsored by the Prudence Crandall Center. It was meant to provide a compelling visual statement about the affect domestic violence has on victims, organizers said. (Read Full Article)

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