FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEXAR COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER

San Antonio, Texas: August 6, 2009:

Four years ago, District Attorney Susan Reed sought and received a grant from the federal government, through the Office of Violence Against Women, to start a Family Justice Center. Through those efforts, San Antonio was one of fifteen cities across the United States to receive the grant and still remains the only one in Texas. The Bexar County Family Justice Center provides for the co-location of multi-disciplinary teams of professionals to provide coordinated services to victims of domestic violence. Since opening, the Bexar County Family Justice Center has served over 14,000 families struggling with domestic violence and has educated over 18,000 individuals in the San Antonio community on the causes, risks and signs of domestic violence and how and where to seek help.

The Center is no longer relying on a federal grant and has a foundation to raise money for its support. Judge Reed serves as President of the Foundation. Fundraising events during the year include a Monster Mash Golf Bash to be held at La Cantera Palmer Golf Course on Friday, October 30, 2009 as well as its annual gala, “An Evening at the Theater,” to be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. A new event for the Foundation this year is the “Dakshina,” which means an offering, a program of classical Indian dance designed to raise domestic violence awareness in the Asian community. This event will be held this Sunday, August 9, 2009 from 3:00 pm to 5:00pm at the Jo Long Theater located at the Carver Community Center. Tickets are available for $10.00 in advance by contacting Ms. Sapna Prasad at samanvaya.arts@gmail.com or $12.00 at the door.

For more information, contact District Attorney Susan Reed at 335-2342.