ENOLA, Pa., April 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, an expert in sexual violence prevention and response, announces 35 recipients of the 2016 Visionary Voice Awards. The multidisciplinary group of honorees is selected for their outstanding work toward ending sexual violence.
The Visionary Voice Awards are presented annually by the NSVRC in conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a national campaign held each April to raise awareness about preventing sexual violence.
The award is presented to a wide range of public servants and industry professionals nominated by state, territory and tribal coalitions. This year's award recipients include Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Rozzi, who has been leading the charge to reform the statutes of limitations that restrict the time survivors of child sexual abuse have to bring civil actions against those who abused them and institutions that may have acted to hide the abuse, and Guam Sen. Benjamin J.F. Cruz, who has championed the rights of sexual assault victims to improve systems' responses to victims and survivors.
"Sexual violence is a serious and widespread problem, but prevention is possible and it's happening," NSVRC Director Karen Baker said. "We are pleased to honor our Visionary Voice Award recipients for their important work in helping individuals, communities and the private sector understand how they can take action to promote safety, respect and equality to stop sexual assault before it happens."
Here is a complete list of this year's Visionary Voice Award recipients:
• Rachel Brian, nominated by the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.
• Daniella Cameron, nominated by the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Dilsa Capdeville, nominated by the Virgin Islands Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council
• Suzanne Coats, nominated by the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Linda J. Cimino, nominated by Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence
• Sen. Benjamin J.F. Cruz, nominated by the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence
• Detective Julie Curtin, nominated by the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Julie Donelon, nominated by the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Capt. Angelo P. Espinosa, nominated by the Virgin Islands Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Council
• Crystal Garcia-Ward, nominated by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
• Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans, nominated by the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Marilyn Gillis, nominated by the Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
• Jane Johnson, nominated by Day One
• Sgt. Ouita Knowlton, nominated by the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Amanda Lindamood, nominated by the DC Rape Crisis Center
• Mary Anne Maldonado, nominated by Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer
• Jamie Manzer, nominated by the Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
• Emmeline May, nominated by the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.
• Kirsti Mouncey, nominated by the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
• Adrianne Nichols, nominated by the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services
• Shannon L. Nichols, nominated by the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
• Laura Patzner, nominated by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence
• Terri Poore, nominated by the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence
• Christina Powell, nominated by the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Dawn N. Rowe, nominated by the Native Alliance Against Violence
• Rep. Mark Rozzi, nominated by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape
• Gina Salazar, nominated by the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Laurie Schacht, nominated by the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
• Matthew Smith, nominated by the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Carmen Murillo Stevens, nominated by the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Meg Stone, nominated by Jane Doe, Inc
• Farah Tanis, nominated by the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Patty Wetterling, nominated by the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Angélica Reza Wind, nominated by the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• TSgt. Marquetta Wines, nominated by Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
To learn more about the 2016 Visionary Voice Award recipients, visit: nsvrc.org/saam/award.
ABOUT NSVRC
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) leads the U.S. in helping individuals, communities and service providers prevent and respond to sexual violence by creating research-based resources in collaboration with issue experts. NSVRC also works in partnership with the Poynter Institute and Berkeley Media Studies Group to inform the media on how to report on this complex issue. NSVRC was chartered in 2000 by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every April, NSVRC leads Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a campaign to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it.