To be presented Sept. 10 at Wine Women & Shoes Event
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The RISE Up Awards recognize excellence in community service supporting RISE’s sexual assault and intimate partner violence programs; the 2017 RISE Up Award winners are Deputy District Attorney Kelly Mandarino, RISE staff member Ana Chavez, K.Jons Diamonds & Gems and owners Stan and Mary Sherwin, Grizzly Youth Academy, and RISE past Board President and Wine Women & Shoes co-chair Lisa Bruce.
RISE will present the awards at the Wine Women & Shoes event on September 10 at the Avila Beach Golf Resort. Wine Women & Shoes features a fashion marketplace, eight Central Coast wineries, seven local culinary vendors, and a seated program emceed by local radio DJ and on-air celebrity Adam Montiel, fashion show, live auction by Storage Wars auctioneer Johan Graham, and the presentation of the 2017 RISE Up Awards.
The RISE tagline is “Respect. Inspire. Support. Empower.” Not an acronym, the tagline represents the themes and values that the agency strives to embody.
RESPECT is the cornerstone to ending violence and creating peace. This award honors an individual who works directly with survivors in the criminal justice system, social services, or a partner agency. The RISE Up Respect Award will be presented to Deputy District Attorney Kelly Mandarino for her valued work with survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault since 2001, the past 11 years of which were spent serving San Luis Obispo County.
RISE strives to INSPIRE the community to be active in the movement to end gender-based violence. This award recognizes individuals on the front lines who represent the agency and inspire others to join the movement. The RISE Up Inspire Award will be presented to Ana Chavez for her long-standing and tireless work as a member of the RISE staff for the past ten years.
RISE SUPPORTs loved ones of those affected by sexual assault/abuse and intimate partner violence. This award goes to an individual or business that has provided extraordinary support to RISE and clients of the agency. The RISE Up Support Award will be presented to K.Jons Diamonds & Gems and owners Stan and Mary Sherwin for their many years of supporting RISE through Wine Women & Shoes, regular donations, and staff volunteers.
RISE works to EMPOWER victims to heal from trauma and transform their lives. This award celebrates a community partner that has created or expanded pathways for survivors to access services and heal from their
trauma. The RISE Up Empower Award will be presented to Grizzly Youth Academy for donating 1,000s of hours of volunteer work at RISE events over the past 15 years.
This year, RISE honors Lisa Bruce with the RISE Up Legacy Award for the long-lasting impact she has made as a member of RISE’s Board of Directors over the past six years. She served as Board President of the Sexual Assault Recovery & Prevention Center, facilitating the agency’s merger with the North County Women’s Shelter. Later she served as Board President of RISE. Her leadership has left a lasting legacy for survivors, the agency, and the community.
“We are thrilled to honor those who have been so dedicated to survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence,“ said RISE Executive Director Jennifer Adams. “Our hope is to continue to recognize spectacular individuals and businesses that have gone above and beyond to end violence and create peace in our community.”
Tickets to Wine Women & Shoes are available online at winewomenandshoes.com/RISE. All proceeds from the event benefit RISE programs that support survivors of sexual assault/abuse and intimate partner violence and their loved ones.
ABOUT RISE: RISE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to transform the lives of sexual and intimate partner violence survivors, their families and the community through services and education that promote safety, healing and empowerment. RISE provides the following programs: 24-hour crisis line, case management, restraining order assistance, accompaniment and advocacy, two safe houses, individual and group counseling, and prevention education.