ENOLA, Pa., July 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Sexual Violence Resource Center and Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape will mark their respective 15th and 40th anniversaries Thursday with a co-hosted open house for partners, the public and members of the media.
The event features remarks from Dr. Rachel Levine, state physician general; Clare Graff, social responsibility director for the NFL; and Bea Hanson, principal deputy director of the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. Delilah Rumburg, CEO of NSVRC and PCAR, and Mary Phan-Gruber, president of PCAR's board of directors, will speak about the organization's legacy.
Recently, the NFL partnered with NSVRC to promote sexual assault prevention. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell congratulated NSVRC on its anniversary.
"We applaud the NSVRC on its 15th year of national leadership in combatting sexual violence and driving real change for good in our culture. We chose to partner with NSVRC because of the organization's dedication, resources and influence around this complex but incredibly important issue. We are pleased to participate in this week's anniversary celebration and look forward to working with the NSVRC on making a lasting impact in reducing sexual violence nationwide," Goodell said.
NSVRC and the NFL have forged a multiyear partnership to invest in strategies to prevent and respond to sexual violence. With the NFL's help, NSVRC will administer grants to services for individuals and families harmed by sexual violence, expand access to effective prevention programs, and enhance the nation's understanding of sexual assault.
PCAR is the oldest and one of the largest state sexual assault coalitions in the U.S. In July 2000, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PCAR founded NSVRC to serve as a national organization focused on all aspects sexual violence prevention and support. Since then, NSVRC and PCAR have cemented their standings as leaders in the effort to promote sexual violence prevention at the state and national levels.
"Recently, attention to sexual violence has increased significantly. On our anniversary, we are reminded that this issue is by no means new," Rumburg said. "Our progress has been long and hard-fought, and we will continue to work with dedicated men and women in the field to increase understanding and awareness about sexual violence. Our work continues until we achieve the cultural shift necessary to eliminate sexual assault once and for all."
Representatives from NSVRC and PCAR are available for interviews about the organizations' anniversaries and sexual violence prevention.
ABOUT NSVRC
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, founded by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. The center leads the U.S. in providing professional support to local and state anti-sexual violence organizations. NSVRC collaborates with partners nationwide to create research-based resources that focus on how to prevent and respond to sexual violence. The organization has the nation's largest library of resources on sexual violence and prevention. To learn more, go to www.nsvrc.org.
ABOUT PCAR
PCAR is the oldest and largest state anti-sexual violence coalition in the U.S. The organization represents 51 sexual assault centers that serve all of the Commonwealth's 67 counties. Each year, these centers provide confidential services, at no charge, to more than 21,000 victims of sexual abuse. To learn more, go to www.pcar.org.