We invite you to come together as a community for this year’s Circle Event, Seasons of Abuse. By bravely telling their stories, local survivors reflect on their past, letting others know that it’s possible to overcome the trauma of domestic violence and enter into a new season of empowerment. Alongside the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, our program will combine survivor stories and education to demonstrate different stages that might repeat or escalate in an abusive relationship. Domestic violence can affect anyone, at any time of their life. But we are all more than our yesterday, no matter what season we are in. Please join us for this unforgettable event!
Click Here to Purchase Individual Tickets & Tables
Circle Luncheon: Seasons of Abuse
Thursday, October 19, 2023 from 11:30-1pm
The Diamond Room at Ceruti’s Catering
Individual Tickets:
$100 per person
Table of Eight:
$800 per table
Host a Table
Will you host a table at YWCA’s Circle Event? As a Table Captain, you would simply invite members of your network to join you at the luncheon, and to help influence support for YWCA.
Last year alone, we served 754 adults with one-on-one domestic violence advocacy, the highest ever in our agency’s history. As a powerful and influential person, we are asking that you and your tribe help make all the difference in raising life-saving dollars for those fleeing from domestic violence.
Table Captains are standouts because they are integral to the success of Circle and have the goal to (literally) bring people to the table who would be willing to learn more about YWCA’s mission and make a financial contribution to support YWCA’s domestic violence services. Learn more about hosting a table here.
To use your power of one and host a table, please contact Patty at pdunn@ywcaerew.org. Each table seats eight and tickets to Circle are $100 a piece. Shared tables can be accommodated as well.
Become a Sustaining Circle Donor
Our clients come to us from domestic violence situations, often fleeing crises inside their homes. When they arrive at our crisis shelter, Bonnie’s House, clients find a circle of support that includes one-on-one advocacy services, onsite therapy, housing coordination, support groups, services for children, and more.
Will you join this circle of support by making your gift as a member of our Sustaining Circle? All Sustaining Circle donors will be recognized at the event if gifts are received by Monday, October 2 and your donation includes registration to this year’s event. Please contact Kristina Nussbaum, Chief Revenue Officer, at knussbaum@ywcaerew.org with your pledge or any questions.
Advocate: $3,000+ Visionary: $1,500 – $2,999 Leader: $1,000 – $1,499 Partner: $500 – $999
Caryn C Burton
Homicide Reduction Strategies Coordinator, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Caryn (she/her) graduated with a BA in psychology & communications in 1999 and MS in Counseling with a focus on school settings in May of 2007, both from Butler University. Caryn has worked as an advocate for her entire career, starting with Legal Services Organization and then with the Family Advocacy Center, working in direct survivor services as both an outreach and court advocate and as the director of a transitional housing program. Caryn has been a staff member at the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence since January of 2007. For the first 15 years or so, she was ICADV’s training coordinator, facilitating hundreds of local, regional, state and national trainings on multiple topics related to intimate partner violence. In October of 2022, she transitioned into the role of homicide reduction strategies coordinator, focusing specifically on implementing and evaluating projects intended to address ipv-related fatalities.
Learn more about ICADV on their website. Connect with Caryn via email.
Give online here.
If you prefer to donate by check, please make your check out to “YWCA Northeast Indiana” with “Circle Donation” on the memo line, and mail it to:
YWCA Northeast Indiana
Attn: Kara Gruss
5920 Decatur Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46816
Find more ways to give to YWCA here!
The Peggy Hobbs Service Award began in 1977 with the intent to honor a woman of outstanding personal development, achievement, and dedication as a volunteer. YWCA Northeast Indiana continues Peggy’s legacy by presenting the Peggy Hobbs Service Award to a woman who embodies the passion, commitment, and dedication of Peggy Hobbs at YWCA’s annual Circle event.
Pictured: Paula Hughes-Schuh (CEO, YWCA Northeast Indiana), and Andrea Mills (2022 Peggy Hobbs Service Award Recipient)
Showcase your company’s community values with an event sponsorship! View Sponsorship Packet.
Sponsors are not required to fill any or all of the seats at their table(s). YWCA is happy to help sponsor their table(s) and will work with sponsors ahead of the event to ensure table seats are able to be filled. Please contact Patty Dunn at pdunn@ywcaerew.org for more information!
*New* Sponsorship Showcase: Take advantage of highlighting your company’s support by having a representative speak at the event as a Dignity Sponsor! Our top sponsorship level offers prominent recognition in our newsletter and on our main event page, premier table location, and free registration for 16 guests! Be sure to connect with our audience of 400 guests from diverse industries and business audiences. Together we will support our local community and businesses dedicated to the YWCA’s vision to empower individuals, support families, and unite communities to improve the quality of life.
Thank you to this year’s top level Dignity Sponsor:
Circle began 27 years ago with a group of women who had an idea to raise funds for YWCA’s domestic violence shelter. They wanted 100 women to come together and each donate $100 in support of YWCA’s domestic violence services. At that time in the late 90s, few believed that women had the financial capital to come together and put on a successful fundraising event. The doubters were proved wrong: Circle was immensely successful and continued on as a women-only fundraising event for at least a decade. In the mid-2000s, men were invited to join Circle for the first time.
The goal of Circle has always been and continues to be to provide a circle of financial support for individuals and their children experiencing domestic violence in northeast Indiana. Circle raises both awareness and funds for YWCA’s life changing domestic violence services.
Pictured: 2022 Circle Steering Committee
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Expect:
- An inspiring showcase of YWCA’s domestic violence program and impact on todays pressing issues and longtime community needs
- Networking with other supporters, community leaders, and business leaders passionate about taking action to make a difference in our community
- Honor the recipient of our Peggy Hobbs Award and our Dress for Success Fashion Week winner
- An exciting Paddle Raiser Auction to fuel our important work to eliminate racism and empower women led by Mitch McKinney
- A Sponsor Showcase to learn more about the local businesses dedicated to YWCA Northeast Indiana’s mission
Mitch McKinney will take us through different donation levels and guests will “raise their paddles” to contribute money.
How do I bid in the Paddle Raiser?
Get ready for the fun part of the event! Join our Paddle Raiser auction to donate to YWCA Northeast Indiana and help us reach our fundraising goal for the evening. Your support is what fuels our programs and services, and we could never do what we do without your help!
Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP)
YWCA uses The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) credits with the goal to increase funds for Sustaining Circle Donations. To fulfill this objective, we will be awarding credits to those who increase their gift over their most recent Sustaining Circle donation. Your increased gift will be instrumental in helping us meet the demand for domestic violence services, and your gift would be eligible for NAP credits on a first come, first serve basis.
Employee Matching
A matching gift program is a kind of corporate philanthropy in which a company’s charitable contribution “matches” that of its employees. Employee donation matching programs often have eligibility rules. They might be open to all employees, but matching gift guidelines may note different requirements or match ratios for part-time employees, retirees, or contractors. To see if your employer utilizes gift matching, check with your Human Resource representative.
Please direct all matching gift inquiries to Patty Dunn at pdunn@ywcaerew.org or calling 260.424.4908 ext. 238.
We invite you to dress to feel your best with the suggestion of “smart casual”
attire.
Learn why Circle is so important to our Steering Committee Members!
Thank you to this year’s top level Dignity Sponsor:
See recaps of past Circle events:
