Pillars Community Health is very fortunate to be the recipient of a $25,000 donation from the Bomher Family Foundation, which has been directed towards the Sexual Assault Program.
“We are very grateful for the generous donation from Jan and her family,” said Patty Murphy, Senior Vice President of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. “In Illinois, sexual assault is a very underfunded program, so we really rely upon private support to improve and grow our program.”
Jan Bomher became involved about five years ago with the Sexual Assault Program as a volunteer for the hotline. In this role, she and the other volunteers are the initial contacts for a survivor of sexual assault and are critical in providing the help they need at that time. The volunteers provide resources over the phone, will meet survivors at the hospital, and will support them during the legal process.
Part of the Bomher Family’s donation will help expand the volunteer scope and structure by enhancing the dissemination of up-to-date resource options, content, and real-time use by hotline volunteers. It will provide volunteer training, manuals, and debriefing meetings so experienced volunteers can mentor newer ones. In addition, it will fund survivor care packages which give survivors a change of clothing, some comforting items, transportation, and the staffing needed to oversee this process. Finally, this donation will help survivors regain their feet through financial assistance for rent and utilities.