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FICTIONAL USE ONLY
About the Spring
FACT SHEET
“Nearly one in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend at some point in their life” – Futures without violence
“One in four teens in a relationship say they have been called names, harassed or put down by their partner through cell phones and texting” – The Spring
Corporate Principles/Board of Directors:
Mindy Murphy, President & Chief Executive Officer
Ryan Freking, Chair
Gregory S. Rix, Esq., Vice Chair
Founded:
Tampa Bay, Fla in 1977
Mission:
To prevent violence, protect victims and promote change in lives, families, and communities.
Contact / Mailing:
The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc
P.O. Box 5147 Tampa, FL 33675
Administrative Office: 813-247-5433
The Spring’s 24-hour crisis hotline: 813-247-SAFE
The Spring of Tampa Bay is a non-profit organization, a DCF certified Domestic Violence Center serving residents of Hillsborough County. Since 1977, The Spring has provided sanctuary and services to more than 30,000 abused adults and their children. It is the largest organisation of Florida’s 41 certified domestic violence shelters and the first in the United States to have an accredited school on site.
It’s mission as a collective organization is too prevent domestic violence, while protecting victims, and help promote change in lives, families and communities.
The Spring aims to be the premier provider of domestic violence services and be a positive force for social change, creating a 'zero tolerance' attitude toward domestic violence in Hillsborough County.
As a large duty of care The Spring provide programs and services to help victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives and raise awareness to prevent domestic violence from occurring. They created these programs and workshops to provide a safe haven for families, safe refuge, time to heal, and encouragement and support to move toward a self-determined life full of peace and love.
Services are free of charge for families:
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Emergency shelter which includes 102 bedded residential facilities for people who feel they are in danger,
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Kids day care services, onsite primary school
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Traditional housing facilities including a 12 unit apartment c
BACKGROUNDER
February is teen dating violence prevention awareness month – The Spring, together with other charity organizations collectively come together to help raise awareness by:
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Hosting different campaigns and events to promote anti-domestic teen violence relationships
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Create events to promote positive, strong and healthy relationships between people whilst identifying what is love and how love should be portrayed
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Provide safety and support for victims of domestic violence
Targeting highschools:
“1 in 3 high school students have been or will be in an abusive relationship” –
Statistics like this illustrate domestic violence amongst teens especially those in middle school and high school. The Spring’ main target audience for this specific event are high school and middle school students, focusing and promoting healthy relationships throughout schools.
Specific targeting plans and activities are implemented at schools including outside events –
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Activities that implements active healthy lifestyle relationships sharing the real meaning about love
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Discussing effects of abusive relationships on education and future goals
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Highlighting the signs of abuse
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Organizations like The Spring come together to highlight the need to educate young people about dating violence, teach healthy relationship skills and prevent the devastating cycle of abuse.
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‘Break the cycle’ – leading national non profit organization which also runs this monthly event – online hub for promotion of Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention month for teens – the percussions of teen dating violence cant go unnoticed and are impossible to ignore - they hurt not just the young people victimized but also their families, friends, schools and communities.
Why does this month of teen dating violence and prevention month matter?
The Spring believe that every young person deserves a safe and healthy relationship, no matter who they are or who they love. Effects of dating violence for teens involve less attention to academics, increased exposure to drugs and alcohol, a greater likelihood of teen pregnancy, growing isolation, depression, eating disorders and sexual assault.
We are living in a world where one in three students report experiencing some form of abuse, and more than two out of three never report that abuse to a caring adult. A world where young people in more than 35 states still lack unfettered access to legal protection or other assistance to end an abusive relationship. Dating abuse isn't just a big issue; it’s a growing epidemic.
BIO
Mindy Murphy is The Spring’s president and chief executive officer. She is also a mentor Biz Women at the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Graduated from university of Virginia with a bachelors degree in English and religious studies, Murphy was born in Germany, lived in Kansas City for five years, and lived in Cincinnati for 15 years before settling into Tampa in 1990. She previously served as a Youth Minister at St. John’s Episcopal.
In Tampa, she has served on the Boards of Directors of Helping Hand Day Nursery, the Child Abuse Council, Cornerstone Kids, The Learning Centers, Friends of Tampa Day School and Trinity School for Children. She is a past president of the Junior League of Tampa, having served as its community vice president and chair of several projects geared towards helping children and families.
In her professional life, Ms. Murphy was previously director of development for the Child Abuse Council (now Champions for Children).
Currently, she serves on the boards of directors for NextGen Alliance Inc. and the Tampa/Hillsborough Homeless Initiative. She is also a commissioner on Hillsborough County’s Commission on the Status of Women – aiming to help the women of America by providing better life opportunities for the future.
NEWS RELEASE
NEWS from MEDIA CONACT:
PR at USF Carina Mirabile
4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620 813-974-1001 carinamirabile@gmail.com
MEDIA RELEASE Feb 5, 2015 HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL MAR 17
FREE EVENT: SPRING INTO ANTI-VIOLENCE BY PROTECTING LIVES AND MAKING A CHANGE FOR TEENS
TAMPA, Fla., (Feb. 5, 2015) – The Spring, a domestic violence center for children and families in Hillsborough County, will host it’s 3rd Annual Teen Dating violence awareness campaign on April 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Florida Aquarium.
February is teen dating violence awareness month and ‘Break the Cycle,’ the leading national nonprofit organization exclusively provides comprehensive dating abuse programs to young people.
The Spring has created a local event to specifically target the Tampa Bay region reaching out to USF, high schools, sporting clubs and public figures around town. The Verizon, a phone service company with a ‘Hope line’ program, will sponsor the event to get the message across and help make a difference. The company collect no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories and turn them into support for domestic violence victims and survivors to reach emergency or support services in times of crisis and stay connected with employers, family and friends.
The free event will include entertainment by <<band’s name>>, food and beverage catered by <<include catering company here>>, mentoring programs from the elder youth, breakout sessions on technology specifically focusing on social media, and an art contest with the topic of respect healthy relationships.
Attendees can openly share their experiences and stories to volunteers on the day, and also gain knowledge about youth relationship violence and the impact it has on families, people, and friends. Team building games will be open for anyone to join, which will help build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships.
According to statistics from Futures without violence, approximately one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner. Organizations, youth and charities spreading continuous awareness around the nation about unhealthy relationships and domestic violence can help make a difference in the future. According to TeenDV Month, Youth activists achieved a major victory in 2005 and 2013 when the importance of addressing teen dating abuse was highlighted in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
The Spring President and Chief Executive Officer Mindy Murphy feels this event will highlight the need to educate young people about dating violence, teach healthy relationship skills and prevent the devastating cycle of abuse.
“INSERT QUOTE TO LEAD SENTENCE,” said Murphy.
To RSVP, visit here <<place website link here>> parking will be available at the aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602.
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About USF:
The mission of The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc. is to prevent domestic violence, protect victims and promote change in lives, families and communities. Since our founding in 1977, The Spring has provided sanctuary and services to more than 60,000 abused adults and their children.
The Spring is the Department of Children and Families certified Domestic Violence Center for Hillsborough County. We are one of the largest of Florida’s 42 certified domestic violence centers and the first domestic violence agency in the United States to have an accredited on-site school for resident children.
Note to Editors and Reporters:
Reporters must schedule private interviews at least 24 hours in advance of the event by emailing NAME at EMAIL or calling NUMBER. Photos may be taken during the interview.