Dear Friends and Fox Listeners,
I know you are asked to contribute to worthy causes every day, but as you can tell, along with the handful of other non-profits I am involved with, I support Horizons and their programs passionately. As a member of the Horizons board, I am struck every day by the incredible team of people who work there. They provide Meals on Wheels to seniors and summer nutrition to children. They offer mental health and credit counseling, provide rides to people in need, including getting homeless children in Cedar Rapids to school, and much more. Perhaps their most unique program is the Survivors Program. Their team of “homicide specialists” helps family members and friends of murder victims and additionally, witnesses to these terrible events. This year the team was named a “9 Who Care” winner.
This team of women. Covering 14 counties, they work crazy hours, called by the DA or police to a murder scene whenever it happens. They help clients with trauma and also guide them through the trial process. The Coach Ed Thomas murder in Parkersburg, the Iowa City Mall shooting and the Marion Hy-Vee stabbing are some of the high-profile cases they have worked.
On September 16, the Horizons Survivors Wine Gala will take place at the Czech Museum from 6-9:30 p.m. Individual tickets are $125 each and include a welcome glass of wine and heavy hors d’ouevres. There will be a short program where one of the high school students from Parkersburg, now 21, will tell us how the program helped her after witnessing the murder of her beloved coach. The food is provided for free from the Marion Hy-Vee in gratitude for the help the team provided to employees after the stabbing there. Following the short program there will be a lively auction featuring fabulous items. Lovely wines, selected by wine connoisseur Tim Gustin, will be available at the cash bar by the glass or bottle. Dress is whatever you feel good in—cocktail attire or maybe you’re coming home from the Iowa game and you’re decked out in Hawkeye attire!
This is the only fundraiser for the Survivors program. With budget cuts it is critical we raise significant funds to keep this valuable program going. I hope you will consider supporting it. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. If you’d like to attend the event, please send your check for $250 made out to “Horizons Survivors Program to Horizons or drop it off at the Horizons Center 819 5th St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Your contribution is fully tax deductible. Thank you so much for your consideration.
Best Wishes,
JJ Cook