Thurston County men stand up to domestic violence at inaugural fundraiser

A new event called 100 Men Who Care About Domestic Violence generated $10,000 Thursday to help survivors in Thurston County.

The hourlong fundraiser was held at the Olympia Yacht Club in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Proceeds will benefit the Family Justice Center program of the Family Support Center of South Sound. The program provides legal support, food, clothing and safe shelter for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, stalking and sexual assault. In 2014, it served 289 adults and 426 children.

Sheriff John Snaza praised the gathering as an effective way to send a message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in the community, especially by men.

“Not all men are bad,” Snaza told The Olympian. “But we don’t support men who do that to their spouses or their partners.”

In fact, Snaza said, domestic violence “consumes almost all of our calls.” In 2014, Thurston County law enforcement agencies responded to 4,644 reports of domestic violence and sexual assault — more than 12 per day, according to county data.

Attendees at Thursday’s event included local elected officials and business leaders from across the county. Snaza and Thurston County Prosecutor Jon Tunheim served as honorary chairmen.

About 65 men attended, and the Family Support Center obtained matching donations to reach the $10,000 goal, said executive director Schelli Slaughter.

“It was really amazing to see all these men come together,” said Slaughter, who also serves on the board for the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “It’s typically been seen as a women’s issue, but the men who were there were ready to do something.”

Domestic violence also has a negative economic impact. Nationwide, domestic violence victims lose 8 million total days of paid work each year, and between 21 percent and 60 percent of victims lose their jobs for reasons related to the abuse, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The coalition reports that the annual cost of domestic violence exceeds $8.3 billion.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 10:42 AM with the headline "Thurston County men stand up to domestic violence at inaugural fundraiser."