MISSION STATEMENT:

The Sharon Fisher Bassett Memorial Fund is dedicated to raising community awareness concerning domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual assault and their connection to eating disorders. This awareness can be achieved through educating individuals, families, schools, universities, civic organizations and communities on local, regional and national levels.

By promoting, organizing and financially supporting forums, lectures, workshops and other community programs we believe that a deeper consciousness can be gained on all levels, attitudes can be enlightened, healthier choices can be made and lives can be changed.

We are very thankful for the interest that the Community Health Education Department of Evangelical Community Hospital has shown for our mission and goals. Last month, I informed our readers that the Community Health Education Department has dedicated their month at The Susquehanna Valley Mall in October for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Sharon’s fund. Currently we are organizing a committee to plan the events of the month.

As I indicated in my last article, we plan to present a short play, “A Rose For Sharon”, written by one of our writers. We will also have a panel discussion, displays, booths and possible workshops and lectures in the mall throughout the month. If your organization would like to participate in the event, please contact Nicole Hockenbrock, Director of Community Health Education, at 570-522-2693.

If you would like to be on our planning committee, please contact me at 570-490-4387 or at mbkaminski@verizon.net.. We welcome community interaction and involvement in education and awareness of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The Sharon Fisher Bassett Memorial Fund is also planning to have a celebrity auction and art auction at some point in the future. We hope to make these auctions annual events. The first location will be Spyglass Ridge Winery located in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Again, if you or your organization would like to be part of either our celebrity auction or art auction, please contact me. All profits will go toward funding the programs and projects of our community education and awareness campaigns.

Recently, I sent a letter to Pepperface. Please check out their website at www.pepperface.com. The creators of Pepperface believe “Awareness campaigns are vital communication vehicles for many diseases and worthwhile causes. Generating awareness is especially crucial in the fight to stop violence against women.” When you look at the website, please focus on tow areas.

The celebrity auction and Project Purple. I contacted Pepperface because of both those projects. I would like to create a campaign similar to Project Purple in Chicago. This project is based on Prevention Purple by the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence. Please support Pepperface. Again, visit their website at www.pepperface.com.

In other areas, we are continuing our search for a spokesperson and working on Sharon’s website. When you go to www.sharonfisherbassett.org you will see that the site is currently under construction. If you have any suggestions as to what you would like to see on the website, please contact me at mbkaminski@verizon.net.. My vision is that this site will be a forum and directory with articles submitted by victims throughout the nation. Please help us design this site with your suggestions in mind.

As you know, we can only continue our work if we have the resources available. Projects and programs take money. Although THE ONE MAGAZINE was created to be a funding source for The Sharon Fisher Bassett Memorial Fund it has never funded the program. Financially, the magazine is not able to fund Sharon’s work.

That is why I constantly seek sponsors and donations. We are a grassroots organization. We depend on contributions and fund-raisers. I am looking for corporate and business sponsorship for our work in the future.

If you, your business or your community organization can financially contribute to the mission and purpose of The Sharon Fisher Bassett Memorial Fund we can accomplish much more within the community. We can educate more people by offering more workshops, seminars and programs such as the month of October in The Susquehanna Valley Mall.

We receive no funding from government agencies or charities. We are an independent organization dedicated to reducing the number of victims who live with domestic violence and sexual abuse everyday of their lives.

We depend on people like Bill and Mary Anne Mackey-Wisor to raise funds for our cause. The have a game that they take to festivals and carnivals. Bill designed and built it. The game is called “Kick The Bucket”. Use your imagination. Well, after each event, they contribute a percentage of their profits or collect money for Sharon’s fund. I am so grateful for dedicated people like Bill and Mary Anne Mackey-Wisor. Mary Anne is also in charge of our fund-raising projects. If you would like to plan a fund-raiser for our memorial fund, please contact Mary Anne at wisors@verizon.net. Bill and Mary Anne will have “Kick The Bucket” at Heller’s Orchard in Wapwallopen, Pa. on October 20th.

If you are interested in beginning a fund-raiser project in your area, I have some ideas that might interest you. Please contact me at mbkaminski@verizon.net.

The Sharon Fisher Bassett Memorial Fund is a community outreach organization and ministry. We continue to grow, reach out, and reach into communities for support and assistance. We also work within communities with projects and programs that educate people and organizations on the illnesses, diseases and legal issues pertaining to domestic violence, sexual abuse, sexual assault and related eating disorders.

If you would like more information about the goals and work of our fund or to make a contribution and financially support our programs and projects, please contact Mike Kaminski at 570-490-4387 or at mbkaminski@verizon.net.

Thank you,