Support Survivors this #GivingTuesday

November 10, 2022November 22, 2022

Sanctuary for Families

Sanctuary clients face more challenges than ever before — we hope you’ll think of them on this special day.

Celebrate #GivingTuesday with a tax-deductible gift to Sanctuary — all gifts will be matched up to $50,000!

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner!

What started as a simple idea and turned into a global movement, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to come together with people around the world in the spirit of generosity.

This year has been particularly difficult for survivors of domestic violence. With two recent Supreme Court decisions that will grant more power to abusers — the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the striking down of a century-old New York law that limited the carrying of concealed firearms outside the home — victims of gender violence face more challenges than ever before.

We know that many other causes are vying for your attention at this time of year. Still, we hope you’ll think of Sanctuary’s clients on November 29th — the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Thanks to a generous group of anonymous Sanctuary Board members, all gifts made to our #GivingTuesday campaign will be matched up to $50,000! You can get a head start on Giving Tuesday by donating today, knowing that your gift will have double the impact for survivors

MAKE A GIFT

Take Action on Social Media

If you’d like to increase your impact, you can create a Facebook fundraiser to get your friends and family involved in our mission to end gender-based violence. It’s an easy and effective way to get the word out about our work.

Create my facebook fundraiser

You can make an incredible difference with just a few minutes’ work.

Click here to create your own Facebook fundraiser.
Click ‘Select Nonprofit’ and search for Sanctuary for Families. You’ll know it’s us by our logo!
Set your goal and tell your friends why you’re supporting Sanctuary or why supporting survivors is important to you.
Start sharing your fundraiser Monday evening and all through the end of the day on Tuesday!

100% of donations made through Facebook go to the nonprofit organization; which means every dollar goes to our cause.

Create an Instagram Nonprofit Fundraiser:

Instagram fundraisers can be attached to video, carousel, and image posts in the feed. The fundraiser will be visible in the post and will be active for 30 days, which can be extended at any time. A link to an active fundraiser will also be added to your profile bio. ACCESS OUR GRAPHICS.

On your profile, tap the Create icon (“+”) in the top right.
Select Fundraiser.
Enter Sanctuary for Families (@sffny) and select it from the menu.
Add details in the Fundraiser Details page, tap Add, and tap Share.

Invite others to join an Instagram Group Fundraiser:

Once you’ve created your fundraiser, tap Share.
Tap Invite Collaborators.
Invite the account(s) you would like to join the fundraiser.
Once the invitees accept, their usernames show in the fundraiser. The fundraiser is also added to their profile.

Fundraise on Instagram Stories Using a Donation Sticker

Open the camera and upload one of our graphics, or your own photo.
Tap the sticker icon.
Select the Donation sticker from the tray.
Search for and select Sanctuary for Families (@sffny).
Customize your fundraiser using Stories creative tools.
Tap Send To, then tap Share next to Your Story.
You can add multiple images or videos to build your fundraising story.

Prefer Twitter to Facebook or Instagram?

Add our donation link to your bio.
When you post, drive your followers to the link in your bio

Have questions?

Direct message us on any of our social media accounts or email communications@sffny.org.

Thank you for supporting Sanctuary for Families. We are dedicated to the safety, healing, and self-determination of victims of domestic violence and related forms of gender violence. Through comprehensive services for our clients and their children, and through outreach, education, and advocacy, we strive to create a world in which freedom from gender violence is a human right.

In Loving Memory of Narkis Golan

October 26, 2022October 26, 2022

Sanctuary for Families

Our statement on the passing of Sanctuary client Narkis Golan — survivor, relentless advocate, and devoted mother to Bradley.

All of us at Sanctuary for Families are heartbroken about the passing of one of our beloved clients, Narkis Golan. The devoted thirty-two-year-old mother of a six-year-old boy, Narkis died unexpectedly last week, in the middle of a legal battle to prevent her little boy, Bradley, from being sent back to Italy where she had been severely abused by his father, frequently in Bradley’s presence.

Even though the federal court judge presiding over the Hague Convention case brought by the father to force Bradley’s return to Italy had found, by clear and convincing evidence, that returning the child would constitute a grave risk of harm because of the pattern of severe domestic violence perpetrated by his father against his mother, the judge ordered Bradley’s return. That decision was appealed to the US Supreme Court, where Narkis prevailed unanimously on the issue of whether the judge was required to consider ameliorative measures that could protect Bradley’s safety in Italy. This Supreme Court decision constitutes an important legal victory that advances the rights of survivors in Hague cases nationally. Disappointingly, when the case was sent back down to the federal court judge, she inexplicably again ordered Bradley’s return to Italy. Although dismayed by the order, Narkis worked assiduously with her attorneys to overturn it, determined to protect Bradley’s safety. Just three hours before her death, she was speaking with her lawyers about the appeal.

With her family’s permission, we have spoken to reporters at Jezebel and NBC News about Narkis’s passing. We are comforted that Narkis’s voice continues to be heard and her heroic battle to protect her son is being recognized and honored. Please know that we are identifying additional ways to honor Narkis and her legacy and are working closely with her family members to ensure that Bradley is protected.

Our deepest gratitude to all who worked tirelessly on Narkis‘s case and accompanied Narkis in her pursuit of justice: Sanctuary board member and Paul Weiss partner Claudia Hammerman, who led the legal team at Paul Weiss that litigated the case tirelessly and brilliantly; Sanctuary pro bono partner and Morvillo Abramowitz partner Karen R. King, who argued the case of Golan v. Saada before the Supreme Court; Sanctuary staff, especially Nicole Fidler, Ruchama Cohen, and Lisa Vara; and all of the outstanding attorneys at Paul Weiss and Morvillo Abramowitz who worked on this case for more than three years.

Domestic Abuse Survivor Who Won Landmark Supreme Court Case Is Found Dead in Her Home

https://jezebel.com/domestic-abuse-survivor-who-won-landmark-supreme-court-1849687940

Family questions death of domestic violence victim whose case made it to Supreme Court following yearslong custody battle

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/supporters-vow-continue-fight-deceased-domestic-violence-victim-whose-rcna53966

Take Action This Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 5, 2022October 12, 2022

Sanctuary for Families

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, take action to support survivors and keep the conversation going through October and beyond.

This year has been particularly difficult for survivors of domestic violence. From the spectacle of misogyny that was the Depp v. Heard trial to two recent Supreme Court decisions that will grant more power to abusers — the overturning Roe v. Wade and the striking down of a century-old New York law that limited the carrying of concealed firearms outside the home — victims of gender violence face more challenges than ever before.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Join advocates and survivors in New York and across the country in educating ourselves and our communities about the dynamics of abuse, and raising awareness about resources available to victims. Here are a few ways you can get involved:.

Raise Your Voice on Social Media

Help us raise awareness about the prevalence and lethality of domestic violence, as well as of resources available to survivors, by posting on social media. We have created a social media toolkit with sample captions and downloadable infographics to help get you started, but feel free to customize your messaging in whatever way is most meaningful to you.

Access our full social media toolkit here: https://bit.ly/3yvqqR8

You can also take action by reading and sharing our blog posts:

Attend an Event

Join Sanctuary, fellow service providers, advocates, and supporters during the month of October.

October 7 | KAFSC’s Annual Silent March against Domestic Violence, 5:00 PM @ NYPD – 109th Precinct, 37-05 Union Street, Queens, New York – The Korean American Family Service Center will be hosting a march down the heart of Flushing in solidarity with survivors of domestic violence. RSVP here.
October 8 | Love on the Block, 12:00 – 5:00 PM @ North Harlem – Bradhurst Avenue 154th & 155th St, New York, NY – Hosted by W.A.R.M. (We All Really Matter), come out and enjoy free food, music, clothing giveaways, bouncy houses, and 20+ resource vendors. Register here.
October 13 | Move to Move Beyond Workshop, 6:30-8:00 PM @ Gibney Dance – 280 Broadway, Studio D, New York, NY – Join Sanctuary Survivor Leaders at Gibney’s Move to Move Beyond — a workshop that offers opportunities to explore personal autonomy, agency, and choice within a supportive collective. Register here.
October 13-14 | 2022 Family Law Conference “Justice for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence” – Join family law practitioners, survivor leaders, social service professionals, members of the judiciary, and advocates to address systemic injustices faced by survivors of intimate partner violence within New York State’s family law system. Register here.
October 15 | Sisters in Purple Domestic Violence Awareness March, 11:00-12:00 PM @ W 145 Street and Lenox Avenue, New York, NY – Help bring more resources to the Bronx Community and join Returning Hope Inc. for their domestic violence resource fair. Register here.
October 15, | Bronx DA Walk/Run/Roll to End Domestic Violence 5K, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM In front of the Supreme Court steps at 161st Street and the Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY – Join us at a 5K hosted by the Bronx District Attorney’s office to raise awareness about domestic violence and honor the resilience of survivors. Register here.

Request a Training

Our staff and survivor leaders are available to lead virtual trainings for community members and groups – including schools, hospitals, law enforcement, courts and judges, faith communities, and cultural groups – who are interested in learning how to identify and support survivors. Learn more.

Wear Purple on Thursday, Oct. 20 and Participate in our Video Campaign

On NYC Go Purple Day, we wear purple to spark conversation and raise awareness about domestic violence. This year, Sanctuary will be creating short videos for Sanctuary’s social media accounts to empower survivors and raise awareness about domestic violence — but we need your help!

If you are interested in joining our collective video project, please register here.

Video guidelines:

You can record the video yourself with your mobile device. Please keep the videos to a maximum of 15 seconds in length, and record in portrait mode (vertically). And most importantly, WEAR PURPLE!

Answer one of the following prompts, or create your own:
- I wear purple because…
- I stand with survivors because…
- What I want people to know about domestic violence is…

Please make sure to include the question in the answer, for example: “I wear purple because everyone deserves the chance to live a life free from violence.”

Register here to participate in the Purple Day video.

Submission guidelines:

The deadline to submit your video is Friday, October 14th.

You can upload your videos here.

We look forward to celebrating Purple Day together! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at lbauer@sffny.org..

Donate to Sanctuary

Your support ensures our ability to deliver counseling services, legal representation, career-readiness training, and shelter to thousands of immigrant and low-income survivors and families every year.

MAKE A GIFT

Take action to keep the conversation about domestic violence going through Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond.

Sanctuary Spotlight: Lisa Dane Corcoran

October 3, 2022October 11, 2022

Sanctuary for Families

A current member of Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council, Lisa has supported Sanctuary’s work to end gender violence for more than two decades.

Lisa Dane Corcoran, a current member of Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council, has supported our work to end gender violence for more than two decades. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with her and learn more about her commitment to our mission.

How did you first learn about Sanctuary for Families?

I first became involved with Sanctuary over 20 years ago. I was asked by the firm I was working for at the time to be the liaison to provide various consulting services for Robin Hood grantees. Sanctuary was a Robin Hood grantee at that time, and I was instantly impressed with how well Sanctuary was run, and its holistic approach to helping families.

How are you involved now?

When my daughters were young, we participated in the Mother’s Day gifts for Sanctuary clients, and my girls enjoyed choosing gifts for the moms and the children. We’ve also participated in the drive to provide back-to-school backpacks for kids, as well as fulfill some holiday wish lists.

This summer, one of my daughters, who is now a senior in high school and an artist, was able to spend time at Sarah Burke House – Sanctuary’s transitional shelter — doing art projects with the younger children. She loved it! It was meaningful to both of us since it allowed my daughter to see the environment these children are thriving in and interact with them on a personal level. And for me, it was a way to solidify for my daughter the importance of giving back without me having ever to say a word–the kids’ delight and enthusiasm said it all.

“It’s energizing for my team and me to be able to collaborate with such talented attorneys to help provide Sanctuary clients with assistance and hopefully a better prospect for their future.”

I have more recently become a member of Sanctuary’s Legal Advisory Council (LAC), which I find meaningful since it provides a window into another realm of Sanctuary that allows me to use some of my work-related skills to help. Even though I am not a lawyer, I work very closely with lawyers, and being on the LAC enables me to hear about the fascinating cases that Sanctuary’s lawyers work on.

Your firm provides investigative pro bono services to help Sanctuary’s clients. Is there one particular case that you worked on that you found most rewarding?

I have been fortunate in recent years to help Sanctuary and its clients from a professional perspective. I have spent my entire career in the field of white-collar investigations and have leveraged my skills and that of my team in the Risk, Investigations & Analytics practice at Charles River to provide pro bono investigative services to several of the many law firms working on behalf of Sanctuary clients.

One of our most recent matters has been assisting the law firm of Cravath Swaine & Moore with a Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act (“DVSJA”) matter that has involved identifying and locating witnesses so they could be contacted and interviewed by counsel in the preparation of the application to the District Attorney’s office. The DVSJA gives judges the flexibility to reduce the sentence of domestic violence survivors convicted of offenses related to their abuse.

Another interesting case was a Hague convention matter for Orrick, another law firm. Our team’s investigation into the background of the father and his dubious finances resulted in a favorable outcome for the mother and, most importantly, their young daughter.

It’s energizing for my team and me to be able to collaborate with such talented attorneys to help provide Sanctuary clients with assistance and hopefully a better prospect for their future.

What would you like people to know about the work that Sanctuary does?

To me, one of the most impressive aspects of Sanctuary is how it tackles equally all the related issues that can arise for a Sanctuary client and their family—from safe housing to clothing, baby supplies, school supplies, legal representation, job assistance, and making holidays and special occasions memorable. If Sanctuary were ever to consider changing its logo, I think it should be a safety net! The integrated way Sanctuary helps its families is unique and well thought out. Once you become aware of all the services Sanctuary provides, you realize how obvious and necessary each one is.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Not to sound cliché, but in the chaos of balancing a career and a family, Sanctuary has become my own personal “sanctuary”—where I can occasionally focus my attention and energy on providing even the smallest bit of help to others, even though I will likely never know them. I find it calming, and a solid reminder of how kindness –whether given or received—is a buoy for all of us.

To those of you at Sanctuary and the other organizations that provide assistance–I think you all hang the stars. I am honored to be in your company, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a meaningful mission.

Join Lisa in standing with our clients. Your gift supports Sanctuary’s life-saving work with survivors of gender violence.

Make a Gift