VENTURA COUNTY — To further the mission of supporting local victims of crime so they do not have to live in silence or fear, the Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCFJC) Foundation will host its first annual Hope Gala July 28 at the Westlake Village Inn.
This inaugural event will recognize the work VCFJC does on behalf of victims of crime, as well as those individuals who have helped pave the way for VCFJC to carry out its mission. The night’s theme is “Hope Grows Here” and will recognize the work the VCFJC does by offering hope and healing.
The evening will feature dinner and entertainment, as well as live and silent auctions. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko will be the master of ceremonies. Suzannah Underwood of Underwood Family Farms will serve as the auctioneer. Underwood has a background in radio and commercial voiceovers and has served as auctioneer for New West Symphony’s Winterfest and the 2022 Ventura County Fair Jr. Livestock Auction.
The Hope Gala will honor community members who have gone above and beyond in their advocacy for crime victims. This year’s honorees will include former District Attorney Michael D. Bradbury, who created the county’s first Victim Services Unit in 1980; former Thousand Oaks Police Chief Timothy Hagel who founded Safe Passage Foundation to help at-risk youth avoid gang involvement; and the late District 5 Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez, who was instrumental in securing the funding and community agreements necessary to expand services in the county.
Accessing resources and support can be a confusing and time-consuming process for victims of crime. VCFJC was founded in 2019 to provide a welcoming community that empowers and supports survivors and their families through comprehensive, holistic services that address the whole person. VCFJC simplifies the recovery process by providing a comprehensive suite of resources in a single location so victims and their families can access the help they need to heal and break the cycle of violence.
Since its opening, over 8,000 adults and children have received help from VCFJC. Originally located in a 900-square foot office at the county government center, the VCFJC center has grown to occupy its own location on Loma Vista Road. Efforts are currently underway to open a second VCFJC in Oxnard to increase accessibility for those in need.
More than 40 public agencies and community-based organizations partner with the VCFJC to reduce trauma, eliminate repeat victimization and make a positive difference in the lives of those served. The center serves victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, elder and dependent abuse, human trafficking and hate crimes.
VCFJC’s partners include ACEs Aware-Landon Pediatric Foundation, California State University Channel Islands-Nursing Department, Coalition for Family Harmony, Department of Child Support Services, Health Care for Justice, Interface Children & Family Services, Ventura County Health Care Agency, Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, Ventura County Arts Council, Ventura County Human Services Agency, Ventura County Legal Aid, Inc., Ventura County Probation Department and many other offsite partners to include every local law enforcement agency in Ventura county and over twenty other community-based organizations.
“Unfortunately, crime touches the lives of people from all walks of life. The VCFJC is here to make sure that no one has to pick up the pieces alone,” said Dr. Thomas Duncan, the trauma medical director at Ventura County Medical Center and president of the VCFJC Foundation. “VCFJC is a vital resource for victims in our county and every bit of support helps. We look forward to many more years of offering hope and healing to victims.”
The Hope Gala will be held July 28 at 6 p.m. at the Westlake Village Inn. Tickets are available for $250. Tables of 10 are available for $2,500. To purchase tickets or become an event sponsor, visit https://www.vcfjcfoundation.org/
About the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation — The Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) (Tax ID# 82-2765815) that was formed to provide funding and resources for the Ventura County Family Justice Center and its programs for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder and dependent adult abuse, hate crimes, human trafficking, and other violent crimes in Ventura County. To support the Foundation by sponsoring the Gala visit here: vcfjcfoundation.org