by William Tauro
Hundreds of supporters attended an event this past Friday evening at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge to celebrate “Respond,” RESPONDing to Domestic Violence 40th Anniversary Gala!
There were silent auctions, full bloom live actions, food galore and a packed function room full of energy and excitement.
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, former Somerville Mayor Gene Brune as well as including some of Somerville’s most distinguished members of society and Somerville’s business community were in attendance.
proceeds raised at the event will go to benefit RESPONDS programs and worthy charitable causes.
RESPOND is New England’s first domestic violence agency and the second oldest in the nation, RESPOND, Inc. is a pioneer in the movement to end domestic violence. Its work began in the early 1970s, when four Somerville, Massachusetts women started a grassroots effort to support victims of domestic violence by opening their own homes as safe havens for women fleeing abuse. In 1974, these “founding mothers” formed RESPOND. For over 40 years RESPOND has provided life-saving shelter, support services, training and education to more than 100,000 members of the community. Services are free and confidential, and available to all survivors of domestic abuse.
In the early 1970’s there were few protections, no shelters and no one to call. Determination, generosity and tenacity paved the way for us to celebrate 40 years of RESPONDing to Domestic Violence.
