Local family, church and volunteer honored at DVSSP’s 17th Annual Peace Begins at Home Dinner
Helping survivors of domestic violence and their children find peace.
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA honored a local family, church and volunteer for their work to help survivors of domestic violence and their children find peace and safety at the 17th Annual Peace Begins at Home Dinner.
Over 200 community members attended the event on Oct. 18 at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh / Southpointe in Canonsburg. Every dollar raised at the event will help provide free and confidential services that help survivors of domestic violence and their children in Washington, Greene, and Fayette counties.
During the dinner, DVSSP CEO Lisa G. Hannum and COO Megan Hegedus presented awards to the following organizations for their efforts to help survivors of domestic violence and their children in Southwestern PA:
The Salvitti Family
For more than 20 years, the Salvitti Family has supported and partnered with DVSSP through sponsorships, grants, donations, and much more. Before her passing in 2011, Connie Salvitti was instrumental in establishing DVSSP’s annual dinner and served as co-chair of the event. Dr. Jennifer Salvitti-Davis has also served as co-chair of the dinner in the past, and the family’s support for DVSSP has continued to grow over the years.
The Salvitti Family’s commitment to survivors and to ending domestic violence in southwestern PA has been vital to DVSSP, and their dedication has been outstanding and inspiring. Accepting the award on behalf of the Salvitti Family was Dr. Jennifer Salvitti-Davis and her father Dr. Ronald Salvitti.
Crossroads Church of Christ – McMurray, PA
For more than 15 years, Crossroads Church of Christ has been dedicated to supporting DVSSP and survivors of domestic violence in southwestern PA. They have shown their support in many ways through financial contributions, special collections, donation drives, use of their facilities, Minute for Mission presentations for their congregation, volunteer projects, and more.
Most recently, a volunteer group from the church assembled the centerpieces for the Peace Begins at Home Dinner. Their support has raised awareness of DVSSP services and changed lives for families affected by domestic violence in southwestern PA. Accepting the award on behalf of Crossroads Church of Christ was Jim and Chris Robison.
Chris Shwallon
For 19 years, Chris Shwallon has been a dedicated volunteer for DVSSP. During her years of service, she has gone above and beyond for clients and the agency in countless ways. She has collected holiday donations for clients in DVSSP’s safe houses, volunteered at the annual PeaceFromDV Walk, secured multiple $2,500 donations for DVSSP through the Lowe’s Heroes Project, and she and her father have worked together to perform maintenance and landscaping work at DVSSP facilities.
Shwallon also worked diligently to help DVSSP establish a new Administration and Prevention Education office. From helping to install carpeting in the building, to securing building materials via donations or at a discounted rate, she has been instrumental in bringing this goal to life. DVSSP honors Shwallon for her dedication and her embodiment of what it truly means to serve others through the act of volunteering.
The 17th Annual Peace Begins at Home Dinner provided an opportunity for guests to stand together during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and say, “NO MORE” to domestic violence while raising critical funds to help survivors in southwestern PA. One in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States will experience severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner in their lifetime. Even more will suffer emotional, financial, sexual, or digital abuse in their relationships.
About Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA
The mission of Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA is to increase awareness of domestic violence and its effect on the community, to empower those victimized by providing advocacy and safe and effective services, and to work for social change designed to eliminate domestic violence. Learn more about DVSSP.
