ANNUAL REPORT 2015

ANNUAL REPORT
2015
Letter from our Director
I hope that you are having a great end to your summer! Summer seems to fly by faster and faster as the years move on. It
has been another successful fiscal year on the books for Mutual Ground! I believe that it’s always important to look at the
positive when facing negative situations like the Illinois State budget. I don’t think I have to tell anyone how difficult it is
to plan for this fiscal year when we have no idea what will happen to one of the largest revenue streams in the agency’s
operating budget heading into the third month our fiscal year. Instead, we will focus on successes we had in FY15 as well
as plans for the future. Forward is the only direction for us…hoping for the best while preparing for the worst (as always).
Some key highlights in Mutual Ground’s year include that we were able to open a satellite office in Batavia where we
are actively serving victims of domestic and sexual violence from North Aurora, Batavia, and Geneva. We are completely
revamping our service provision to include better hotline assistance, a more case collaborative approach to services
offered to residents in our shelter, and working toward better serving individuals seeking orders of protection at the
Kendall County Courthouse. Meanwhile, we have managed to make important updates to our building that not only help
make the organization more welcoming to clients, but also make our ability to serve them more efficient and effective.
We were so incredibly grateful to be approached by Hogan Construction in Geneva who offered to completely rehab our
sorely outdated and incredibly run down front lobby. Hogan Construction completely gutted the room, put in brand new
beautiful and durable flooring, added a chair rail, updated our electric, and painted the lobby beautifully! With funding
from the Dunham Fund, we were able to purchase a new front desk and lobby chairs. What a difference this has made!
We reconfigured the space to better serve our clients and to ensure that EMS was able to have room to use the front
door if needed. Calvary Church completely renovated our living room providing new furniture, paint and décor and
completely rehabbed our first floor bedroom by adding new flooring, painting, décor, and bedding. Our kitchen was
rehabbed by HB Fuller with a new backsplash and paint, and finally we were able to update our large basement meeting
room where we hold our group counseling sessions, all-staff meetings, trainings, and meetings of our Board of Directors.
As I write this letter, there are five women and twelve children here in shelter. We just finished up our school supply drive
where we were able to get over 100 children ready for the school year and our prevention specialist are working hard out in
our schools. We are working tirelessly on our upcoming Walk for Hope as this is one of our biggest fundraisers and awareness
initiatives of the year. Working to become less dependent on State funding is a daily mission for the administrative staff.
We developed our FY16 fundraising strategy and are working hard to increase fundraising revenue streams. We are doing
all we can to ensure that victims of domestic and sexual violence are getting the services they need and we couldn’t do it
without your help! As always, thank you so much for your generous support of our mission.
Michelle Meyer, MBA, ICDVP
Executive Director
Domestic Violence Hotline
630-897-0080
Sexual Assault Hotline
630-897-8383
2015 Staff List
Domestic Violence Program
Victim Advocacy
Domestic Violence Program Coordinator: Rebecca Laudati
Counseler: Kiersten Amport
Advocates: Patty Garcia, Maria Guillen, Nitxcy Gutierrez, Lucy Rojas, Eileen Farias, Denise Santana, Erika Rios
Relief Advocates: Karina Garcia, Yesenia Herrera, Sabrina Karakaya, Candis Nikolic, Donna Suchecki, Alexander Wayzer, Kelsey West & Ben Wilcox
Crisis Intervention Advocates
Elizabeth Rivera, Elia Arcilla, Andrea Estrada & Sonia Lucena
Youth Advocacy
Coordinator: Sarah Hipp
Counselors: Daniela Larrondo & Deandra Bass
Childcare: Tina Klimpke & Mayra Juarez
Court Advocates
Coordinator: Sheila Gray
Advocates: Dalila Gerena, Blanca DeLoera, Diana Rodriguez & Kendra Coronado
Sexual Assault Program
SA Program Coordinator: Amy Medlin
Counselors: Mirna Fernandez, Nilva Perez, Alicia Hirt, Amanda Kuter & Nicollette Muniz (DV and SA Batavia Outreach
Counselor)
Sexual Assault Court Advocate: Amanda Kuter
Prevention Education Program
Program Coordinator: Rhonda Annala
Prevention Educators: Jennifer King, Christina Wright, Carrie Eike & Staci Fulton
Administration
Executive Director: Michelle Meyer
Clinical Services Director: Alisa Neary
Finance Director: Debbie White
Director of Marketing and Events: Wendy Martorano
Director of Advancement: Lisa Ewers
Human Resources Director: Karin Mulder
Grant Writer: Tina Willson
IT Coordinator: Kim Hargis
Administrative Assistants: Joy Cox, Katherine Kovach
Grounds Maintenance: Jose Zamora
Mutual Ground
Where the Healing Begins
mutualground.org
Volunteer Services
Director of Volunteer Services: Julie Judd
Emergency Response Program Coordinator: Jenaleigh Dague
Board of Directors FY2015
Officers of the Board
President: Andi Danis
Vice President/Treasurer/Finance Chair: Marlene Deck
Vice President/Board Devlopment Chair: Dr. Renae Franiuk
Vice President/Marketing Chair: Heather Schmidt
Secretary: Steve Schultz
Members of the Board
Anne Barrett-Co-Chair Food for Thought
Susan Boehme*
Deborah Gurley
Joseph Henning
Jeremy Lime
Dr. Medea Rambish
George Sterling
Steve Sung
Sharon Surrett-Co-chair Walk for Hope
Juan Thomas
Josh Whitt
Life Member: Cynthia Allen
Executive Director: Michelle Meyer
*Past President of Mutual Ground
“Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when
we touch them with compassion.”
~ Buddha
Domestic Violence Hotline
630-897-0080
Sexual Assault Hotline
630-897-8383
Revenues
Government $1,044,701
Grants/Foundations $297,231
Special Events $163,948
Fundraising
$245,047
United Ways $52,500
Earned Income $94,288
Total Revenues
$1,897,715
Expenses
Program Services$1,377,160
Admin/General $446,422
Fundraising
$61,647
Total Expenses$1,897,715
Mutual Ground
Where the Healing Begins
mutualground.org
Statistics
53% of our clients are Hispanic
30% of our clients are Caucasian
15% African American
1% Asian
1% unknown
How your donation helps the healing begin:
$21 child domestic violence counseling session
$24 child sexual violence counseling session
$26 one adult domestic violence counseling session
$30 one adult sexual violence counseling session
$88 one day of summer camp for one child
$111 one night of shelter for a single woman
$175 one night of shelter for a mother and two children
$274 one month of domestic violence group counseling sessions for five teens
$422 operating the domestic violence hotline for 24 hours
$698 Three-day middle school sexual assault prevention program for 150 children
Domestic Violence Hotline
630-897-0080
Sexual Assault Hotline
630-897-8383
Donors
Over $5,000
Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation Fred J. Brunner Foundation
Thomas Burgstone Caterpillar Foundation Caterpillar WIN
Ms. Barbara Davis Exchange Club of Naperville The Hartford Hollywood Casino Kohl’s Laurel Foundation PTO Services, Inc. Sending Support Charitable Foundation
TJX Foundation Ulta Inc. Unilock Chicago, Inc. Verizon Wilton Brands Community Fund
$2500-$4999
Altrusa International of Fox Valley
Assurance Caring Together Foundation
Susan & John Boehme United Way of
Mr. Kevin Fitzpatrick Fox Valley Newcomers & Neighbors
Fox Valley United Way Dr. Renae Franiuk Ms. Jean Goehlen Juvenile Protective Association McMaster-Carr Supply Company Meadowvale
Miss Fannie’s Yard Sale
Ms. Molly Foundation Naperville North/Wheaton North
Girls Softball Gary & Nancy Penisten The Pentair Foundation Susan Carter
Waubonsee Community College
Debbie Whilhelmi Stuart & Becky Whitt Zonta Club of St. Charles-Geneva-Batavia
$1,000-$2499
John Anthony AT&T Illinois Aurora Fastprint Aurora Sunrise Rotary Club Foundation John & Jayne Ballun Batavia Mother’s Club Batavia Rotary Club Mrs. Betty Brownson Ms. Kim Caldwell Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Terri Carpenter Judy & Charles Carroll Castle Bank Chicago Area Combined Federal Campaign City of Aurora ComEd Dart Container Corporation Dan D. Dolan Christopher Dove Ecolab Foundation Wynette Edwards Exchange Club of the Tri Cities Fox Valley Presbyterian Church Tom & Virginia Frattinger Ms. Natasha Granholm Don & Jane Grimaldi H.B. Fuller Community Affairs Ms. Linda Healy Holy Cross Catholic Church
Mark & Suzanne Hosticka Matthew Hurlbut Illinois Hospital Association Kane County Bar Association Jesse Maberry Nancy Modery
Molly Maid of Aurora-Naperville Area
New England Congregational Church
New Horizon Christian Fellowship Nicor NRG Wholesale Generation Orchard Auto Detail Orchard Road Animal Hospital Lou & Mary Peterhans Ms. Michelle Porro Rasmussen Inc. Audrey Ritchey RiverFront Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge Rotary Club of Aurora Rotary Club of Oswego Rowe Custom Transport Dale Rowe Rush Copley Medical Center Sam’s Club Semler Industries Shaw, Jacobs, Goosetree & Associates, P.C.
Smith Family Foundation
Superior Beverage Co. The Compassion Foundation Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva
United Methodist Church of Geneva
Reverend Bill Obalil United Methodist Women Church of the
Good Shepherd United Souls Motorcycle
Association Frederick & Anne Veague Walmart Weldstar White & Ekker, P.C. Joshua Whitt Whitt Law Tom & Eve Widmaier Carol Winkle Youngren’s, Inc.
$500-$999
AGCO Alarm Detection Systems Askey’s Construction, Patrick Askey C.W. Schindler and Friends Katherine Caliento James & Lynn Cannon Chicago Zoological Society Community Foundation of the
Fox River Valley Ms. Andrea Danis S. Marcian Deisenroth RSM Devon Bank Drake Industries, LLC Endeavor Group LLC Fox Valley Credit Union Roberta & John Franiuk Gap Foundation Geneva Lions Club Diane Gerner Greenleaf Yoga Joanne Hansen Kiwanis Club of Aurora Kiwanis Golden K of Aurora Edward & Susan Koziol Lori Kuiper The Label Printers
John McKee Fannie Morrison My Sisters Lil Donut Shoppe LLC Neary Family Trust Jean Neupert Old Second Bank Yorkville Village of Oswego Oswego Presbyterian Church Caroline Otterman R. Aaron Eissens DDS PC R.J.Kuhn Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.
Regency Tuck-Pointing Rush Copley Medical Center Kay Russell Mr. Philip Schlabach Serena High School National Honor Society
Sharon Slover St. Peter & St. Paul Orthodox Church
Steel Management Inc. Steve & Lisa Steinwart The Growing Place Jim and Clare Toynton Waubonsee Community College
Wells Fargo Advisors Debbie & Ken White Judy Willman Yorkville Congregational Church
$250-$499
Aurora Police Department Aux Sable Mavis Bates Ivan & Mary Becker Bethany Lutheran Church BP Fabric of America Fund Edward & Paula Bruck Bulldog Plumbing Inc Denise Farrugia & Ronald Burgess Daniel & Jeanette Byrne Calvary Episcopal Church Virginia Carpenter CARSTAR Yorkville
Parley Casto Certa Pro Painters of Aurora Collision Connection Auto Body, Inc. Community Congregational Church Jim & Marcia Cromer Mr. Rey Cruz Marlene & Rich Deck Susan & Thomas Dienslake Robert Dobyns A & D Propane, Inc Erik Estrada Fox Valley Dialysis, LTD. Sarah E. Franke Freedman Anselmo Lindberg LLC Gamma Phi Omega Brian & Jennifer Healy John J. Heitkotter, Inc Ms. Katherine Hepp James & Ina Heup Steven & Jennifer Hirner Holiday Inn Express Mrs. Barbara A. Houck Johnson Probing LLC Susan Justice Randy Kelley James & Virginia Kintz Ginny & Gene Kluber Mr. Terry Kothe Karen Kramford Heather & Robert Macklin Mrs. Penny Markowski John & Ann Marriner Metlife Ms. Michelle Meyer Gerry & Barbara Morrow Ms. Janet Nelson Peace Lutheran Church Ms. Kathy Richards Robert Ruffie Mr. Steven Sabo Ms. Maggie Sadowsky Mary Ann Schwarzbach Sharratt Chiropractic Paula Shreffler St. Anne’s Society of Holy Angels St. Lukes Lutheran Church Jack Stees Kenneth & Susan Suchomel Third Ward Social Club, Inc. Traughber Junior High School Steven Vasilion Doris Whitt David & Corinne Wieck Anna Yang
Under $250
Dwayne & Karon Abbott Lisa Accardi Dr. Kristen Accardo Sabrina Aiello Karin Alber Judith and Chester Albright Richard Albright Sherry Albright Jo Ellen Aleide Mutual Ground
Eva Alessia Karen Alexander Ms. Deann Alleman Amazon Smile Foundation American Marketing Association
Aurora University Christine Anderson Kathy Anderson Matthew Angela David & Amy Angermeier Mrs. Rhonda Annala Mr. Jack Armbruster George Arnett Imelda Arriaga Aurora Farmer’s Market Marian Bailey Gerino Barangan Kurt Barbel Lynn Barclay Joe & Susan Barnes Jerome & Elaine Barnwell Ms. Anne Barrett Margaret Barry Batavia Women’s Club Nan V. (Ginny) Bateman Mr. Thomas Baumgartner Joseph & Lesley Beary Christie Behrens John & Paula Belcher Mariann Benda Jim & Ruth Benson Cassie Blickem Margaret Blomquist Julie & Brian Boczkowski Robert & Jamie Bode Richard & Debra Bogue Danny Bombard Christina & Kyle Bonesteel Edward & Gerda Boone Mr. Randall Borkus Brenart Eye Clinic Normandie Brown Teresa Brown Mar Brummel Carol & Paul Byrd Jessica Caliendo Penny Cameron Laura & Anthony Canale Rebecca Cantrell John Capone James & Betty Carson Christy & Michael Carter Judith Casey Cran & Cindy Caterer Ruth Cavanaugh Jo Cawthra Ms. Michelle Cedeno Jose & Imelda Cervantes Mary Lou Chapa Wendy Chiu Marianne Chrisos Christopher B. Burke Engineering LTD.
Cathy Classen Louise Coffman Coffman Truck Sales, Inc. Elsie Ann Cole Community Shares CFC Dan & Kelly Conrad Joshua Conerse Luis Cordova Felix & Kendra Coronado Desiree & Francisco Cortez David Courtright James & Barbara Cox Joy Cox Carter & Donna Crane Kelly Croy Lorena Cuevas Michael & JoAnn Curry Dairy Queen Jeff Webster Patty Darcy Ms. Patricia Daugherty Susan & Noel Davis Tammy Deleonardis Helena DeMoss Ginny and Bob Dewig John & Julia Dietz Mary Ann Doetschman Where the Healing Begins
mutualground.org
June Donka Timothy Donofrio Al & Rita Doud Cathy Dozark Susan Ducar Mr. Chris Duer Jessica Dyer Earthmover Credit Union Dorothy Eaton Ms. Carrie Eike Ms. Michelle Emanuel Emerging Fashionz Jim & Su Erickson Mrs. Ellyn Exline Ms. Mindy Fairbaim Sherri Farley Oswego Farmer’s Market Kathryn Farrell Tracy & Rod Feece Maribeth Fencl FermiLab Melissa Finnegan First Baptist Church First Giving Mr. & Mrs. Henry and Jean Fisk Alice Foster Will Foster Fox Chase School Mr. Todd Franiuk Christine Freeland Friends of Stephanie Kifowit Keith & Theresa Frisk Gail Gaebler R Brian Gage Lynda & Patrick Garramone John & Mary Ann Gee Ed & Peggy Geiss Linda Gekas Genesis Community Church Geneva Historical Society Marilyn Gillette Girl Scout Troop #830 Glancer Magazine Bruce & Margot Goldsmith Melva Gordon Shannon Granato GRC Wireless, Inc. GreatLife PC Greenman School Katherine Grimaldi Nicole Guerrero Elizabeth Hair Charles Haley Barbara Halsey Ms. Ruth Harding Joyce Harner Mary Hauge Nancy Heaton Miriam B. Helmen Duane Hem Paul & Caryl Herwick Angela Hibben Jack & Diane Hienton Ms. Jean Hilger Catherine Hill Erin Hilton Jane & Clark Hinkley Mary Hinterlong Dave & Sandy Hipp Charlene Hirner Jim & Carol Hirner Sue Hirner Hix Bros Music Inc Mary and Andrew Hlebasko MaryJo & Gregory Hoffman Sylvia Holland Hope Meketh Not Ashamed ORM Hope’s Bracelet Jim & Nancy Hopp Karen Houck Eric Hudson Jeanelle Huebner Clarence Hughes Ms. Edith Hughes James & Jodie Hurckes Carol Hurrle Lee Iacopetti Judith Impellizzeri Domestic Violence Hotline
Gayle Jacobs Kenneth Jay JC Penney Silicon Valley
Community Foundation
Tom Jendro Phyllis Jessick Beth Johnson Patrisha Jones Phillip and Kathleen Joschko Mrs. Roberta Kane James Karalekas Kimberlie Katzel May Keenan Laura Keigley Keith’s Car Care James and Julie Keller Dana Kellett Johnny Khristy Kristina Kielbasa Carol Kilroy Roger & Eileen Kimber Heather Kinealy Deb Forsyth Karen Kiner Barbara King Renee King Kiwanis Club of Batavia Steven Klonowski Cheryl Knox Kathleen & Dan Kocunik James & Patricia Kowalkowski Julie Kramer Les & Wendy Kraska Gregory & Christine Kresek Laura Kubicek Ruth Kucharski James & Susan Kuehl Beverly Kuhn Shakuntala & Ritu Kumar Ladies Wednesday Night Bridge Group
Patricia Lally Patricia Lamon Beverly & Donald Lapp Kate Lasota Terry & Jane Laughton Martin & Julie Laurich Diana Law David & Susan Leader Steve and Mary Jo Leggett David & Virginia Leifheit Elizabeth Lennie John Letang Jr. Edward Lichtenstein Sandra and Thoma Lindblom Bruce & Meredith Lindgren Angella Link Lucile Little Carolina Lopez Leslie Lopez-Butscher Luxemberger Club Margaret Lykens Stephen & Rosemary Mack Maya Mandujano Carol Martorano Bill & Mary Marzano Donna Mastney Lynne Mattingly Annett May Christopher Mazzone James Mazzone McAdams & Sartori, LLC Patricia McCarthy Connie McClain Michelle McCullough Rob McDermott Nancy McDonough Diana McGill Elizabeth A. McLaren Marie McWard Ms. Elizabeth Meisner Arvid & Char Meyer Elroy Meyer Janet and Thomas Meyer Kathryn Meyer Gary & Georgia Mickey Deborah Miller Elyece Miller Patrick and Jean Miller Ross & Betty Miller 630-897-0080
Sexual Assault Hotline
Rosa Molina Diana Montoya G. William Moore Betty Moorehead Mike Moran Rick & Cathie Morehouse Mike & Becky Morganegg Diana Mortimer Ellen Mueller Bernandine C. Murphy Kay Myler Ms. Nidia Navar Doug & Michele Needham Bill & Marcia Nelson Laura Newman Cari Nicklas Pam Nokkentved Carol Nunns Mary O’Connor Mr. Robert O’Connor Miriam Ojaghi Karen Olson Neal & Mary Clark Ormond June Orr Lynn O’Shea Jacalyn Page Ms. Debra Palmer Dr. John & Donna Palmer Dave & Deb Paluch John & Georgiana Pasulka Donna Paulos Michael Pauly Phyllis Pavese Shirley Pearson Mary Ellen Peffer PEO Aurora Group Virgil & Denise Perry Pamela Peters Norma Peterson Ted & Norrain Phelps John & Kathe Philipchuck Mrs. Katherine Pientak Charles & Jacquelyn Pierce Jo Ann and Douglas Pierce Davilan Pierre-Louis Daniel & Erin Platt Plattville United Methodist Church Mrs. Deborah Pohlman Ms. Twana Porter Prager Moving & Storage Presence Mercy Medical Center
Maureen A. Bryant Helen and Gary Prester Provena Mercy Medical Center Karen & Thomas Pulver R.C. Wegman Construction Company
Dr. Madea Rambish Janice & George Ramming Nancy Rasey Betty Rebhorn Latonya Reddic Carlos & Juliet Renteria Jeff & Cindi Reuland Patrick Richter Sally Rickel-Erickson Ms. Catherine Riddle Paul Rivas River Breeze, LLC Mrs. Mary Ruth Roberts Patrick & Patricia Roberts Heather Rocen Amanda Rodman Dorothy Rodman Jerry & Norma Roesner Brian & Bonnie Rooney Scott Rubo Michael Sacenti Sage Spice Shop Inc. Greg Sams Patricia Sand Stephen & Pamela Schindel Ms. Heather Schindler Jay and Karen Schrimpl Heidi Schrock Steve Schultz Wally & Debbie Schwartz Shawn Scott Mrs. Marsha Seymour 630-897-8383
Nancy Shellhart Bobi Shields Donna and Roland Shirk Dixie Shurson Judy Siedlecki Terrie Simmons Mrs. Gloria Sisko Six Flags Great America Martha Slimp Amanda Sloan Jeryl Smith Mark Smith Patricia Smith Thomas & Barbara Smith Ms. Suzanne Snyder Leslie Sparrey Elizabeth & Charles Spinning Terry & Cindy Spurgeon St. Mary’s Church Jim & Barbara Steinwart Carolyn Stephens George Sterling Helena Stevenson Mike & Elmarie Stiers Sugar Grove Farmer’s Market Sugar Grove United Methodist Church Kathleen Sullivan Michael and Angela Supak Superdawg Clarice Sutton Dana Teichart Mr. Raymond Termini Jill Thompson Melanie Thornton Kathy Tollaksen Ms. Tania Traverson Mary and John Trimberger Trinity Church United Methodist Candice Tyler Lori Uhrhammer United Methodist Women Wesley
UM Church United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Louis and Alice Vago Ken & Louise Van Andel Jim & Cindy Van De Veire Caryl Van Overmeiren Skylar Vogt The Voice Carter vCrane Linda Volz Frank & Char Voris Michael & Penelope Walker Margaret & Thomas Walsh Tarisha Jeanne Washington Waubonsee WEOS Dawn Webb Diane Weekly Ed & Nancy Weiss Sandra Weiss Carol Westcoat Eric Westman Westminster Presbyterian Women’s Assn.
Susan Palmer & Richard Westphal James & Deborah Wheeler Richard White Denny Wiggins Benjamin Wilcox Barry Wilk Jane Williams John & Barbara Williams Jonathan Williams Truman & Talia Willson John Wittman Dennis Wold Stephanie Wollert Woman’s Club of Aurora Advisory
Endowment Fund Daniel Woodland Daryl Woods Deborah Wright Yorkville Congregational Church-Joy Circle
Yorkville Women of the Moose Roberta Zeck Tony & Elaine Zefron Barbara Zillgitt Gail Zwemke In Memoriam
Memorial
Mark Hirner
Anonymous
Mina Riddle
Catherine and Thomas Riddle
Brandy Murphy
Dennis Wold
Ray White
Debbie and Ken White
Betty and Ross Miller
Jean Wolf
Catherine Riddle
Patricia Meyers
Eileen and Roger Kimber
Debra and Richard Bogue
Elroy Meyer
Mary Jo and Gregory Hoffman
Connie McClain
Kay Hurt
Susan and Noel Davis
Norma and Gerald Roesner
Gwen and John McKee
Beverly and Donald Lapp
Debbie and Ken White
Diane and Jack Hienton
Sandra and David Hipp
Kathryn Farrell
Richard R. White
Catherine and Frank Dozark
Elizabeth and Charles Spinning Jr.
Jane and Clark Hinkley
Clarice and James Toynton
Honarium
Nancy and Ed Weiss
Elizabeth Lennie
Heather Schmidt
Daniel Woodland
Mutual Ground
Where the Healing Begins
mutualground.org
Susan and John Boehme
Barbara Houck
Terri and Bill Carpenter
Elaine and Jerome Barnwell
Jan Myer’s Mother
Catherine Riddle
Sharon Surrett
Katherine Caliento
Lorraine Abbott
Virginia Carpenter
Mrs. Walter Jones
Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Clark
Deacon and Mrs. J.A. Barnwell
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Barnwell
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jones
Drs. Mitch and Connie Sewell
Joleen Shields
Bobi Shields
Charlene Meyer
Marian and Francis Bailey
Michelle Meyer
JoAnn and Michael Curry
Carol and James Hirner
Cathie Morehouse
Donna Paulos
Julie and Martin Laurich
Christina and Kyle Bonesteel
Jennifer and Steven Hirner
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Poplowski
Terri and Bill Carpenter
Abigail Solazzo
Mary O’Connor
Emily Ruth Grudecki
Diana Law
Barbara Sadnavitch
Sue and Joe Barnes
Silas Johnson
Karen B. Alexander
Andrea Will
Bulldog Plumbing
Mary Poole
Lori Uhrhammer
Kris and Rick King
Renee King
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Parrino
Jo Cawthra
Jennifer and David Schroeder
Rebecca Wolverton
Barbara and Joh Halsey
Domestic Violence Hotline
630-897-0080
Sexual Assault Hotline
630-897-8383
Excerpts
After the police gave Dora information about Mutual Ground, she reached out for services. Initially, Dora
requested counseling services for herself and her children. When she learned that she could also receive civil
and criminal court advocacy, she requested those services as well.
“I want to tell you that two days ago a student told me that she was sexually abused from the time she was 3 to the
time she was 6. She said she didn’t know it was wrong. She said that she realized what was happening when Mutual
Ground came to her first grade class to talk about safe and unsafe touches. She went home, told her parents, and
they called the police. THANK YOU! Thank you for all the work you and everyone else at Mutual Ground does to keep
our kids safe!”
“It is difficult to describe the feeling of helplessness that comes when you realize that you are in a life or death situation
of domestic violence. The feeling of warmth, safety, and comfort when a beautiful caring person hands you clean
blankets to put on a bed in a safe place for you to rest your head is immeasurable...When you wake up the next morning
to realize that the safe place is now your home-your launching pad into a new life, the real you begins to resurface. The
legal advocacy provides a person to stand beside you-physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
“Your organization is something I really believe in. I used to work at Mercy ER and it was nice to see someone from
mutual ground come in and talk to an individual that was sexually assaulted because I felt like there was someone on
their side. I wish I could help others in this manner, but I am not sure if I am strong enough to do that. It takes specially
trained people with a bigger heart then I have. Thank you again for being able to come and talk to the students. It
really means a lot to me.”
“The feeling of warmth, safety and comfort
when a beautiful, caring person hands you
clean blankets to put on a bed in a safe place
for you to rest your head is immeasurable.”
Mutual Ground
Where the Healing Begins
mutualground.org
Upcoming Events
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
8th Annual Walk for Hope
Saturday, October 17, 2015
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
2nd Annual Food for Thought@Fisherman’s Inn
Thursday, April 21, 2016
May 30th Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Downtown Aurora Parade
Rock Out Against Rape Concert, Two Brother’s Roundhouse
Thursday May 19th, ROAR
Volunteer Updates
Trained Volunteers receiving certification for FY15: 24
Active Male Volunteers: 2
Total number of Victim Advocates in FY15: 49
Total number of hours all volunteers donated to direct services: 612
Total number of hours volunteers donated to indirect service in the Emergency Response Program: 3036
(Time spent on-call, but not called out)
“If you want to lift yourself up,
lift up someone else.”
~ Booker T. Washington
Domestic Violence Hotline
630-897-0080
Sexual Assault Hotline
630-897-8383
Mutual Ground
Where the Healing Begins
mutualground.org
Domestic Violence Hotline
630-897-0080
Sexual Assault Hotline
630-897-8383
Domestic Violence Hotline:
630-897-0080 (24hr)
418 Oak Avenue
Aurora, IL 60506
Sexual Assault Hotline:
630-897-8383 (24hr)
Fax: 630-897-3536
Administration Offices:
630-897-0084
Mutual Ground
Email: info@mutualground.org
mutualground.org
Where the Healing Begins
mutualground.org