Media Release

11:01 a.m.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center Advisory Board is holding its annual fundraiser to celebrate April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  The Fundraiser will be held 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on April 18, 2008 at the Gainesville Country Club, 7300 SW 35th Way, Gainesville, FL.  A silent auction and cash bar will take place from 6 p.m. - 7:10 p.m. followed by a buffet style dinner and desserts.

Guest speakers will be former State Senator and State Attorney Rod Smith Esq. and Gretchen Howard from Alachua County's State Attorney's Office.

Attendees can donate by buying individual seats for $50 each, two seats for $95, or an entire table of 10 for $500 which includes the donor's name used on printed materials.  Those who are unable to attend are encouraged to send a one time donation.  Donated items are also accepted and will be used to raise money in the silent auction.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network estimates that "one in six American women are victims of sexual assault, and one in 33 men, but more than half of sexual assaults go unreported."

All donations from the fundraiser will be used towards funding medical exams for non-reporting victims, purchasing of materials for teen and male support groups, translators to assist victims in any language, conversion of the Center's English reference materials into Spanish, and emergency care packages for rape victims.

For more information call toll free 1-866-252-5439.

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