Dear Friends,

As a child you learned how to read, math fundamentals, and where the various states and countries are located on Earth. I learned all that too, but I also learned how to pretend like I was asleep when my stepfather would come into my room after beating my mother. I learned how to overachieve in school so that our problems at home would go unnoticed. And eventually as a teenager, I learned that love is not supposed to hurt -- so I moved out to live with my father and have a safe and healthy remainder to my school years. Unfortunately, my mother is still with my abusive stepfather to this day....26 years and counting.

Therefore, I feel strongly for the need to support the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. I believe that through education and support, these women and children will realize that they have options and a real support system. Mutual Ground of Aurora, IL, empowers victims to regain control of their lives by providing them with the appropriate support (counseling and/or shelter), encouragement, and legal advocacy.

On October 1, 2011, Mutual Ground is having their 4th Annual Walk for Hope, and we have gone from the girls riding in a stroller to them calling this "the race to raise money for Mutual Ground". I hope you will support our family in this walk. And remember that no donation is too small -- every dollar adds up!

I hope you will support our fundraising effort and the vital work of Mutual Ground by making a tax deductible donation right now. Here are some examples of what your donation could do:

$17 a child who is a witness to domestic violence will have art supplies.

$26 will provide an individual counseling session for a child who witnessed his mother’s abuse.

$61 will provide two counseling sessions for a victim of domestic violence.

$97 will provide a victim and her family with a night of shelter.

$162 will provide a rape victim with two therapy sessions.

Please be as generous as you can. Donations made on this site are safe and secure. Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too! You can email the website or share it on your Facebook page.

 

P.S. If you would like to join "Team Johnsen" and walk with us, just click on the "Team" tab on the blue bar at the top of this webpage.  Then click the blue "Get Started" button.  We'd love to have you walk with us!!

 

You can learn more about Mutual Ground by visiting their website, www.mutualgroundinc.org.