AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
+19 AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
AVDA’s Record-Breaking Home Safe Home Gala Raises for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Aid of Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) celebrated a record-breaking evening at its annual Home Safe Home Gala held at The Post Oak Hotel. This year’s event, chaired by Caroline and Matthew Monday and Julia and John Stallcup, brought together over 270 attendees from Houston to London for an unforgettable night of support, solidarity, and hope for survivors of domestic violence.
The evening began with a cocktail hour where guests listened to live music and received a sneak peek of the live auction. The highlight of the program was the presentation of the Heart of Houston Award to Mark Russell – a former Board Chair and a current AVDA Board Member. Russell is a dedicated advocate for domestic abuse prevention after losing his niece to intimate partner violence in 2008. His tireless efforts have made a profound impact on the community, helping to create a safer and supportive environment for survivors. The program concluded with the house lights lowered and (flameless) candles lit for all guests to “be the light” that brings domestic violence out of the shadows (see photo in folder).
Guests were treated to a dinner of burrata salad, hibiscus-glazed short rib and Chilean sea bass, and Mastro’s famous butter cake plus an open bar throughout the event leading into a spirited live auction. Packages included an exclusive golfing weekend at The Olympic Club, Bentley weekend rental, Colorado getaway, and in-home raw bar for 25 from State of Grace. Following the auction, a surprise match hyped up guests during Paddles Up raising more than $350,000 in under five minutes.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming generosity of our supporters, who have helped us make this year’s Home Safe Home Gala our most successful yet,” said Maisha Colter, CEO of AVDA. “Each dollar raised brings us one step closer to ending the cycle of domestic violence and providing safer homes for families and their children.”
Thanks to the dedication of its generous attendees, sponsors, and supporters, this year’s event raised over $725,000— a new record for AVDA — all of which will go directly towards providing life-changing services for survivors including legal representation and trauma counseling.
About AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse)
AVDA’s mission is to end family violence by advocating for the safety and self-determination of victims, promoting accountability for abusers and fostering a community response to abuse. Since its founding in 1980, AVDA has provided free advocacy, safety planning and legal representation for more than 100,000 survivors and group counseling for 10,000 abusers focused on personal change to end the cycle of abuse.
A United Way of Greater Houston agency, AVDA provides:
- Free legal representation to victims of domestic abuse for protective orders, divorce, child custody, child support and adoption (in cases of parent fatality) in Austin, Grimes, Harris, Fort Bend, Waller and Washington counties plus emergency funding and safety planning;
- Psycho-education counseling for abusers in Fort Bend, Harris, Galveston and Montgomery counties through its Battering Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP);
- Counseling for adults, children and groups (Harris County); and
- Programming for youth across the Greater Houston area to prevent abuse by focusing on healthy relationships.