Let's STEP UP together for Safe Passage
Welcome to my fundraising page! I am thrilled to be participating in the 10th Annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage. From January to December of 2011, I was lucky to work as a volunteer and eventually as the legal program intern for Safe Passage. I met a so many incredible people, both clients as well as staff and volunteers, whose lives have been transformed thanks to the essential services that Safe Passage provides. I will never forget my experience working with Safe Passage, as it helped to form my professional and personal commitment to anti-oppression work and supporting trauma survivors.
My experience fundraising for the 2012 Hot Chocolate Run was both surprising and humbling. I had just moved to the Berkshires after living in Northampton for a while, and spending an amazing year working for Safe Passage as the legal program intern. I was missing the work terribly, along with all of the people involved (both clients and staff). The HCR was my perfect chance to reconnect and help out from afar. After registering for the run and creating a profile, I shared the link to my fundraising page with a few friends and family members. My wonderful dad, Cliff, was the first person to respond exclaiming-- "Let's do this!". Cliff has worked for the same New York City paper company for the past 35 years. In all of this time he's helped his colleagues and clients (and their kids) with various fundraising efforts, whether its buying girl scout cookies or pledging money for a softball team. However, he'd never really had the occasion to share a fundraising campaign himself. Until now! Since my sister and I had both volunteered for Safe Passage in the past, he knew how important this organization was to our community and to us as individuals. He sent out a simple e-mail to every one of his contacts, linking my fundraising page and urging them to help out. I could never have expected what happened next. My inbox was almost immediately flooded with donation notifications and heartfelt messages from folks I had never even met. My dad has developed so many positive relationships over the years and his commitment to helping others is what propelled people from all over to come out of the woodwork to step up for Safe Passage. I was humbled by the generosity of others, but also very proud of what this response says about my father. He is a man who recognizes the importance of ending domestic violence, and who unconditionally supports his daughters and our community. Sometimes all it takes is one person to connect us with others, and I'm grateful that my dad stepped up for Safe Passage along with me.
This year, I am asking you all to step up for Safe Passage by donating $1.00, $10.00, $100 (or more!) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the event.
I am proud to be a team member representing the Springfield Renaissance School, an expeditionary learning mentor school within the Springfield public school system. This team is a group of teachers, my fellow counseling interns, staff and students of Renaissance working hard, being nice and getting smart. Show your support for Safe Passage, and the Springfield Renaissance School by helping us surpass our goal of $1000.
Thank you for your support!
Samantha Chaplin
MSW student, Smith College School for Social Work
Birth Doula, Ten of Cups Birth Services
http://www.tenofcupsbirth.com
Hot Chocolate Run 2013: Step Up for Safe Passage!
Every day, Safe Passage helps women and children take steps towards a brighter and safer future. Some of these steps are easier, and some are harder. Every step is important.
Take a step towards helping families affected by domestic violence. Make a donation to a participant who is
Stepping Up for Safe Passage!
Safe Passage is the organization in Hampshire County building safety, hope and justice for families who have lived with domestic violence. Adults and kids come to Safe Passage for a variety of programs: an emergency shelter, counseling and support groups, legal advocacy, and so much more. We also work to prevent domestic violence before it happens through our community engagement programs. We hope you'll join us in our work by making a donation! Learn more at our
website.