Dear Friend:

This is the profound impact that your support has made in one survivor's life:

RVA has helped me find meaning in life. RVA helped me to believe in myself. And RVA helped me start living.

Martha Alicia Montes Madrid, Survivor & Artist

For over 40 years, generous supporters of RVA – like you – have made it possible for thousands of sexual assault survivors to transform their lives. Last year alone, we served 1,600 survivors and their loved ones, and thousands more through our education and training services. But today we face a different future. The unprecedented State of Illinois budget stalemate has threatened significant funding that enables us to be there when survivors of sexual violence need us the most. We have taken proactive measures to do as much as we can to sustain our present level of services. But the longer the budget impasse lasts, the more difficult it becomes. We are now at a critical juncture and need your support today.

You can see the impact of your giving in Martha's story.  Martha suffered abuse from her own family. She tried to heal by seeing a therapist, but the therapist perpetuated the abuse Martha was seeking to escape. A friend told Martha about RVA and through a combination of counseling and art therapy, Martha experienced healing through the services that you support.

Please join us in making sure that no survivor is ever alone. Survivors like Martha. Survivors who are your neighbors. Your gift today – at your most generous level possible – will enable us to weather the state budget crisis and provide effective, dependable and quality services that survivors deserve – at no cost to them. Whether this is your first gift or you are a long-time RVA donor, thank you from our staff, our Board and especially from the survivors who we serve. With your generous gift, RVA can provide 24-hour crisis response to survivors in hospital ERs, one-on-one counseling, child sexual abuse prevention workshops in grade schools, professional training for doctors, nurses and law enforcement and so much more. Your gift TODAY will ensure that we are here for Martha, and so many more like her.

Thank you for partnering with Rape Victim Advocates as we stand with survivors and against sexual violence in Chicago.

My best to you and your loved ones for a happy and safe holiday season and a wonderful New Year.

With gratitude,

smsig

Sharmili Majmudar
Executive Director

PS With your gift, at any level possible, we can continue to serve the survivors who need us. Make an immediate impact by giving online, or send a check to Rape Victim Advocates, Attn: Development, 180 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60601.

PPS Make your gift go even further by asking your employer to match your contribution.

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Thanks to RVA and thanks to you, I have blossomed as a woman and as an artist. The first picture you see was created before counseling at RVA; the second picture was created after counseling at RVA. I will let you interpret the differences.

Martha Alicia Montes Madrid

Survivor & Artist