Womens Fund of Essex County Logo

Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is awarded a $10,000 grant

NEWBURYPORT, Mass., May 4, 2022 – The Women’s Fund of Essex County has awarded the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center a $10,000 grant to bring Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area to Lawrence Catholic Academy. This grant is part of a broad effort to support Essex County nonprofit organizations addressing the issues and systemic social inequities specific to women and girls.

Suzanne Dubus, Chief Executive Officer of Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center stated, “We are grateful for this grant and the ongoing support and generosity we receive from The Women’s Fund of Essex County. This is a critical time to support women and girls, and especially women and girls of color, who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. We are very excited to expand Girls Inc. programming to Lawrence.”

As a critical complement to the trauma services they provide, Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center also offers youth violence prevention programs called Youth Empowerment Services. These programs play an important role in helping young people stop the cycle of domestic violence. Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area is one of several youth programs offered by the Center; this grant will support the organization’s first school-based program in Lawrence.

The Center believes girls are stronger, more confident, and less likely to become victims of domestic violence when they are empowered through education, skill-building, awareness and strengthened confidence and self-esteem. Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area is a program of the Center’s Youth Empowerment Services and works with girls ages 6-18. Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area is an affiliate of Girls Incorporated®, a national research, education and direct advocacy organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

About Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center

Since 1982, the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center has been helping individuals and families impacted by domestic violence. What first began as the compassionate mission of several volunteer parishioners of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newburyport has grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit organization serving adult and child survivors of domestic violence from Newburyport to the Merrimack Valley; and providing tools and strategies to reduce domestic violence homicides across the country. In addition to our domestic violence support services and trainings, the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center offers Youth Empowerment Services (YES), which educate students how to lead conversations about healthy relationships, recognize signs of an abusive relationship, and become empowered to make positive and healthy decisions. The mission of the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center is to empower individuals and engage communities to end domestic violence.

For more information, visit www.jeannegeigercrisiscenter.org or call the 24-hour confidential hotline at 978-388-1888.

About The Women’s Fund of Essex County

Founded in 2003, The Women’s Fund of Essex County’s mission is to promote philanthropy and award grants to organizations that provide opportunities and promote solutions for women and girls in need or at risk throughout Essex County. Since its inception, The Women’s Fund has awarded over $2.3 million to more than 100 non-profit programs. The Women’s Fund is a field of interest fund of Essex County Community Foundation located in Danvers, MA.

To learn more about The Women’s Fund, please visit www.thewomensfundec.org.

###