DOVE Center Gala celebrates 25 years of supporting survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault
By Leanna Bergeron
Over 250 guests gathered at the SunRiver Community Center March 2 to celebrate DOVE Center’s sixth annual gala. By the end of the evening, DOVE had raised a grand total of $125,603, more than any previous gala.
“With 2019 being DOVE’s 25th year anniversary, we wanted to use this gala to celebrate and give recognition to the community partners that have made the organization what it is today,” said Lindsey Boyer, executive director of DOVE Center. “We are so grateful for the ongoing support that has allowed us to continue to grow and serve the community more fully.”
Fundraising portions of the evening included a live auction, a silent auction, and a “Fund a Need.” A record-breaking $55,000 was raised on the night of the gala alone in addition to $49,500 from organizational sponsors’ contributions.
All gala expenses were covered from the more than $20,000 that was raised in ticket sales, allowing DOVE to dedicate all of sponsor contributions to victim services and community education programming.
“This will be our goal moving forward,” Boyer said. “To dedicate sponsor contributions to programming, making them ‘organizational’ sponsors, and continue to celebrate these supporters at our event each year.”
The organization relies heavily on its annual fundraising gala to continue offering support to some of the most vulnerable members in the community. Nearly half of DOVE’s funding and support comes from local community donors, said Ruth Weniger, president of the board of directors.
“Domestic abuse and sexual assault are serious issues and we honor survivors every day,” Weniger said. “They often face their future with uncertainty and fear, and we work hard to give them hope for a more certain, secure future.”
Also in attendance at the gala were two founding members of DOVE Center, Sheila Curl and Russ Gallian — both of whom were featured in a video tribute created by Salt Lake City nonprofit Spy Hop: Phase 2 Productions.
The video can be viewed here [link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODGvvBoUD9I&feature=youtu.be].
These founders, with the help of the community, recognized the need for a place where victims of domestic abuse could find refuge and safety and opened the doors to a safe shelter in 1994.
DOVE services and programs include crisis intervention, advocacy, emergency shelter and housing assistance, pet safety services, relocation assistance, and trauma recovery counseling. They serve primarily Washington and Kane counties.
