April 2023 Newsletter

Advocacy In Action

April 2023 Newsletter

News and Updates from Turning Point of Lehigh Valley

A New App Connects Survivors to Life-Saving Resources

App Bright Sky Now Available

Developed by Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and Vodafone Americas Foundation, the new app Bright Sky is available to support anyone concerned about or experiencing domestic and intimate partner abuse. The Bright Sky app is available for download on iOS or Android, and is also acessible via the website. It offers users a variety of resources, including the ability to:

Identify the types and signs of domestic and intimate partner abuse
Assess the safety of their relationship or that of a friend
Access information about different forms of abuse and how to help a friend that may be affected
Locate local resources and support services

April is Volunteer Recognition Month

It Takes A Village

In honor of Volunteer Recognition Month, we want to take a moment to shine a light on all of the amazing individuals and groups that give their time and talent to help advance our mission and enhance our services for survivors and their families across the Lehigh Valley.

We appreciate you all!

Special thanks to:

Danielle N. Adams

Meghan Baker

Cameilia Baker, MBA

Blessed Beginnings

Dr. Alison Bloom

Glenna Burleigh

Epworth United Methodist Church (Bethlehem)

St. Paul Baptist Church (Bethlehem)

Sai Group

Carolyn Harper

Joan T. Holtman

Cupid Intimates

Sheila Ketterer

Marissa LaWall, Esq.

Guardian Life

Paul Mazzucco

Mary McKenna

Jenn Moore

David Morris

Rebecca Mutchler

Michelle Laureano Roque

Patricia Russo

Vanessa Vicario

Sean Wacker

Heather Walbridge

Lauren Wieser

Kayla Schubert-Wirth MSW, LCSW

Congratulations to Our 2023 Women of Influence Winners!

Turning Point's Very Own Lori Sywensky and Cameilia Baker

We are honored to announce that both Lori Sywensky, Executive Director of Turning Point and Cameilia Baker, Turning Point Board Member have been named 2023 Women of Influence by Lehigh Valley Business. Please join us in applauding this achievement for Lori and Cameilia!

Lori Sywensky, Executive Director of Turning Point of Lehigh Valley

"It is a tremendous honor to be recognized as a Woman of Influence in the Lehigh Valley. I truly owe every success I have had personally and professionally to a long line of women who I greatly admire. At the point in my life when I began to see adversity as an opportunity rather than a barrier, I began to gain confidence in myself and my abilities. Work in victim’s services has allowed me to gain new perspective on my own experiences and bear witness to amazing strength in others. I am strongly motivated to improve what Turning Point does every day and make sure the agency is positioned to be here when we’re needed for future generations."

Cameilia Baker, MBA, Director of Emergency and Hospital Medicine at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Turning Point of Lehigh Valley Board Member

"I am honored to be a part of an organization that enables me to invest in my community. I am deeply committed to reducing the stigma associated with domestic and intimate partner violence. Serving on the Turning Point board of directors allows me to give back to my community while advocating for those who do not have a voice."

Click Here to Learn More and See the Full List of Honorees

Donor Spotlight: The Provident Bank Foundation

Finding Resiliency in "Flex Funds"

Our partners from The Provident Bank Foundation paid our staff a visit last month to learn more about what our team has been up to since receiving our second Major Grant Award back in late October.

Through the ongoing partnership of The Provident Bank Foundation, our team has been empowered to continue our transformative housing and financial empowerment work with survivors and their families throughout the Lehigh Valley.

"Flex Funds" from The Provident Bank Foundation have had a powerful impact on our ability to meet the unique barriers preventing survivors from achieving and maintaining long-term housing stability and have also enabled us to promote financial literacy and well-being among survivors who have faced financial abuse.

Click Here to Read our First 'Story of Flex'

Celebrating All Women

Supporting Survivors for International Women's Day

We were honored to have been invited to the Nazareth Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 11th where various women owned businesses and vendors came out to celebrate all women for International Women's Day!

Donations were collect to benefit our shelter and we also received a $250 check from the event organizer, The Curious Plantaholic.

Thank you to all of the businesses and individuals that held donation drives for the month of March.

Special thanks to:

ARCH Medical Solutions

A.M. Bakery

Brown Skin Plant Mama

Blue Sky Candle Co.

Emmaus Rotary Club

Eclectic Collective

GXO

Jess Pacheco of C23ink

Joint Goods

Liquid Interactive

Lehigh University's Center for Gender Equity

MTM Financial Group's "Invest In You"

Muhlenberg College Hillel

Nazareth Center for the Arts

The Art Den

The Curious Plantaholic

Verizon (Whitehall location)

Women at Amazon

Another Successful Virtual Spring Auction

We raised $23,040 for survivors and their families!

Our Third Annual Virtual Spring Auction was huge success, raising over $23,000 for survivors of domestic and intimate partner abuse and their families throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Thank you to everyone who made this auction a reality, including our sponsors!

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444 E. Susquehanna Street, Allentown, PA 18103

turningpointlv.org • (610) 797-0530

Turning Point of Lehigh Valley is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organization as defined under the Internal Revenue Service code section 501c(3). Tax exemption entity ID 23-2100651. Please consult with your professional tax advisor as to what deduction may be available to you. The official registration and financial information of Turning Point may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.