St. George’s DOVE Center received a $2,500 grant from the Ironman Foundation Community Fund to be used for community awareness and prevention education regarding domestic violence and sexual assault. The Ironman Foundation gave $49,000 to nonprofits in the greater St. George area in conjunction with its 2016 triathlon event that took place Saturday, May 7.
It is the second year in a row that the Ironman Foundation donated funds to the DOVE Center. Last year’s grant subsidized the costs of materials for DOVE Center’s self-protection course, a holistic risk-reduction class focused on empowerment, social awareness, and healing.
The grant will be used to sustain the recent growth in DOVE Center’s community outreach, awareness, and prevention programs.
Stephanie Spainhower, outreach coordinator at DOVE Center, visits Washington County schools and youth groups several times a month to teach young people about consent, boundaries, and safe dating.
“My favorite part of my job is talking openly with kids about consent and respect in relationships,” said Spainhower. “Teenagers are hungry for this information. I think back to when I was younger, and wish I had known an adult that was just real with me about this stuff. I hope that I can be that type of person for a young person that needs it.”
Awareness and prevention programs help DOVE Center accomplish its mission to build a community of peace. Its community outreach programs aim to help people avoid abusive relationships by identifying red flags and learning the characteristics of healthy relationships such as mutual respect and personal accountability.
“We are deeply committed to providing this information to the public and the financial support from IRONMAN helps fill a gap in the perennially under-funded area of prevention,” said Adele Pincock, outreach and development director at DOVE Center. “This gift will allow us to increase the impact and effectiveness of these empowering community education programs.”
DOVE Center relies on community volunteers to help deliver its programs and services. Anyone interested in scheduling a prevention presentation or learning more about DOVE Center’s Prevention Team and other volunteer opportunities can contact the DOVE Center office at (435) 628-1204 or outreach@dovecenter.org.
DOVE Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing safe, caring, and confidential shelter, advocacy, and support for victims of domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault and reducing the incidents of abuse through prevention education. For more information go to dovecenter.org.
