As summer begins to wind down, we are energized by the momentum building at NOVA and excited for what's ahead. One exciting development is the addition of a new team member: John Hyatt, NOVA’s new Development Director! John brings a wealth of experience in fundraising and a deep commitment to NOVA's mission—supporting and empowering victims of crime in Bucks County and preventing violence through prevention education and advocacy. We’re thrilled to have him join our team and look forward to the leadership in expanding financial support and investment in NOVA.

August also marks Make-A-Will Month, a meaningful opportunity to plan for the future while supporting the causes that matter most. NOVA is honored to be part of your legacy, and we invite you to consider including us in your estate planning. Every gift helps us continue providing critical services to victims and survivors well into the future.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for the return of our annual Upstander Awards! These awards recognize individuals who choose action rather than standing by. Community-wide nominations open today—read below for details on how to nominate someone who inspires you.

Thank you for being an essential part of the NOVA community. Your support makes all of this possible.

NOVA's 2026 Upstander Awards: Honoring the Brightest Stars in Our Community

Every day across Bucks County, ordinary people do extraordinary things—choosing courage over silence, compassion over apathy, and action over standing by. NOVA’s Annual Upstander Awards return in 2026 to celebrate these everyday heroes: individuals and groups who make a difference when it matters most.

At NOVA, we define an Upstander as someone who shines a light in the darkness by speaking up, stepping in, and supporting others. Like the brightest stars, Upstanders lead by example—showing courage and compassion in their communities, standing out through their actions, and working to create a safer, kinder world for everyone.

Nominate an Upstander Today!

Do you know someone who consistently chooses to do what’s right, even when it’s difficult? A student who stands up to bullying? A neighbor who brings people together? A business that prioritizes inclusion and kindness?

Now is your chance to recognize the Upstanders in your life and help us shine a light on those who lead with heart.

Award Categories Include:

Adult Upstander of the Year: Honoring an individual (age 18+) who consistently demonstrates the courage to speak up, take action, and support others in need. This award celebrates a Bucks County adult who stands out as a role model—someone whose everyday actions promote safety, kindness, and respect in their home, workplace, or community.

Youth Upstander of the Year: Recognizing a young person (age 18 or under) who chooses to be a light for others—standing up, speaking out, and making a positive difference in their school, peer group, or community. This Upstander leads with empathy, sets an example for others, and isn’t afraid to do what’s right, even when it’s hard.

School Spirit Upstander: Awarded to a student, teacher, staff member, or school volunteer who helps foster a culture of kindness, inclusion, and belonging in their school environment. This person consistently goes above and beyond to encourage school spirit through their actions—supporting others, promoting safety, and creating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard.

Workplace Upstander: Presented to a Bucks County business or organization that fosters a workplace culture of respect, inclusion, and community support. This award honors a company that leads by example—empowering employees to speak up, promoting kindness and equity, and taking meaningful action to support staff well-being, customer care, or community engagement.

Group Upstander: Celebrating a club, class, team, or group that works together to create positive change, support others, and stand up for what’s right. Whether through a project, campaign, or shared mission, this group models the power of collaboration and shows that being an Upstander is even stronger when done together.

First Responder Upstander: Recognizing a Bucks County first responder (law enforcement, fire, EMS, or medical personnel) who demonstrates extraordinary compassion and leadership in their service to the community. This award honors those who not only respond in moments of crisis but do so with a trauma-informed, community-minded approach that uplifts and protects others.

Nominations are now open! We invite you to nominate someone with a meaningful connection to Bucks County—someone who lives, works, studies, volunteers, or conducts business here. Whether they are shining in a moment of crisis or leading quietly every day, your nomination helps us recognize and celebrate the incredible impact of Upstanders in our community.

Visit novabucks.org/nominate to submit your nomination today—and help us honor those who don’t just stand up, but truly shine.

Nominate An Upstander!

Deepfakes, AI, and Sextortion: A New Digital Threat with Real-Life Consequences

As technology evolves, so do the tactics used to exploit and harm others. At NOVA, we are committed to educating our community about emerging risks, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create sexually abusive content known as deepfakes.

Deepfakes are videos, images, or audio recordings generated or manipulated by AI to portray events that never actually happened. This technology can be weaponized to fabricate realistic-looking sexual images or videos of someone. Often, this is able to be accomplished as easily as using a face pulled from social media without a person's knowledge or consent.

These fake images and videos can also be used as tools of manipulation in a growing form of abuse known as sextortion. A person may threaten to share these AI-generated images unless the victim sends money, more images, or complies with other demands. Whether the content is real or fake, the fear, shame, and harm are real.

You don’t need to know whether an image is AI-generated or not to support someone who is being targeted. If a person discloses that they are being blackmailed, your role isn’t to investigate—it’s to listen, believe, and connect them with help. Law enforcement and digital forensic experts can determine the nature of the material. What victims need in the moment is your compassion and support.

Pennsylvania has recently taken some important steps to address these harms:

Senate Bill 649, signed into law as Act 35 of 2025, classifies deepfakes and other forms of digital impersonation as digital forgery, punishable by law. This law recognizes the damage caused by AI-generated abuse and gives law enforcement the tools to hold perpetrators accountable.

Recent legislation like Act 125 of 2024 criminalizes sexually explicit content that has been digitally manipulated, making it illegal to create, distribute, or possess sexually explicit content involving manipulated (AI generated) images of individuals. Under this law, creating such content is now a criminal offense, graded as a first-degree misdemeanor if the person depicted is a child, and a second-degree misdemeanor if the person depicted is not a minor.

Another recent change updates Pennsylvania's law (Chapter 6321) on the transmission of sexually explicit images by minors. The definition of "sexually explicit image" has now been expanded to include AI-generated depictions, meaning that even fake images created by artificial intelligence fall under this law.

These laws are a step forward, but the fight to protect our community, especially youth, also depends on awareness. NOVA continues to offer prevention education, counseling, and advocacy for individuals affected by exploitation, whether online or in person.

If you or someone you know is being threatened with sexual images or videos (real or AI-generated), know this: You are not alone. It’s not your fault. And it is a crime.

NOVA’s 24/7 Helpline is always available at 1-800-675-6900 for help and support.

John Hyatt, Director of Development

John Hyatt, NOVA’s new Director of Development, joined the team in late June. In this role, he oversees all fundraising activities—including operations, strategy, and planning—to support NOVA’s continued growth and sustainability. John is deeply passionate about the nonprofit sector, community service, and making a meaningful impact wherever possible. His career has spanned numerous organizations and museums throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, reflecting his long-standing commitment to mission-driven work.

John also brings personal insight to his role, having experienced trauma, recovery, and the legal system firsthand. He approaches this work not only as a survivor, but as an overcomer—bringing empathy, strength, and advocacy to every aspect of his work. He is inspired by NOVA’s mission to support and empower victims of crime in Bucks County and to prevent violence through education, training, and advocacy. John joins the NOVA team with great enthusiasm and heartfelt purpose, ready to be a champion for both heard and unheard voices. His work will help ensure that NOVA not only continues its critical services, but also expands its reach and impact in the years ahead.

A message from John Hyatt:

“In honor of the hard work and dedication of NOVA’s incredible team—and in celebration of how far the organization has come—I invite you to support our mission. Whether it’s our counselors, forensic nurses, victim advocates, helpline staff, crisis intervention team, educators, or anti-trafficking coalition, there are countless ways your donation can make a difference. Without your support, we cannot move closer to NOVA’s vision: a society free of violence, where every child and adult is treated with dignity and respect.”

We appreciate your dedication to serving victims of crime, and we are proud to have you as part of the NOVA Team!

Smarter Parents, Safer Kids

August 20│August 27

Help Keep Your Child Safe and Earn up to $100 in Amazon Gift Cards!

Join a Smarter Parents, Safer Kids workshop to learn practical ways to protect your child from victimization — and receive up to $100 in Amazon Gift Cards for your participation.

The August 20th session will be held virtually and the August 27th session will be held in-person.

Learn more about eligibility to participate and register for your desired session here.

Designer Bag Bingo

October 17, 2025

Designer Bag Bingo is officially back! Join us on Friday, October 17th at 6:30 PM for the grand return of NOVA's Designer Bag Bingo benefiting the Bucks County Children's Advocacy Center. Come play for a chance to win a variety of designer handbags while supporting a good cause!

There are still a limited number of tickets available! Purchase your tickets now!

Get Your Tickets!

Upcoming Closures + Summer Office Hours

The NOVA offices and NOVA Thrift Shop will be closed Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day.

We are giving the NOVA team a mental health break! NOVA's staff works tirelessly day in and day out to ensure that all victims and survivors of sexual assault and other crimes receive the support, care, compassion, and help they need. We can't think of a better way to thank them then by giving them time off. This summer, NOVA's offices will close at 2 p.m. each Friday between May 23rd and August 30th for Summer Fridays, giving NOVA staff time to relax and recharge.

NOVA's 24/7 Helpline is always available at 1-800-675-6900.

New NOVA Merch!

Exciting News: NOVA has launched a brand-new merch store!

Now you can wear your support for your favorite local nonprofit and help spread the word about our mission in style.

From classic tees and cozy sweatshirts to hats and accessories, there's something for everyone, available in multiple colors and more designs than ever before!

Even better? With every purchase, NOVA receives 10–15% back to help fund our work supporting victims and stopping violence.

Browse the new collection and shop with purpose here.

Try the NOVA RX Savings Card!

NOVA has partnered with WellSync to provide essential medications at discounted rates, all while benefiting NOVA. Every time you use your card, NOVA receives a $2 donation at no cost to you. Make a difference with each medication purchase!

Click the image to the right to access and download your printable card.

Print this page and cut out the RX Savings Card along the dotted line. Take your card to any of the 35,000 participating pharmacies. Present your card with your valid prescription and the pharmacies will apply the discount.

Did you know that you can plan a contribution to NOVA?

It’s a meaningful way to make a lasting impact – on your terms.

August is National Make-A-Will Month, making it the perfect time to consider how you want to shape your legacy. We wanted to make you aware of the options available to you when contributing to NOVA. One impactful choice is including NOVA in your will or estate plan. There are many ways to give—whether it’s a bequest of cash, securities, property, or naming NOVA as a beneficiary of a trust. Your planned gift helps ensure NOVA’s long-term growth and impact.

By having peace in the present, you’ll know that your future desires will be executed, as you empower NOVA to grow and expand through the capacity you’ve chosen to share.

Please know:

Helpful online tools are available, such as www.freewill.com
Estate planning professionals can help you sort through the details.
Wills can be updated at any time to reflect your evolving wishes.
Anyone, regardless of age, can create a will.
Planned giving is deeply personal and there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

What better way to bring families together by supporting a great mission that empowers victims of crime in Bucks County, and works to prevent violence through training, advocacy, and prevention education?

For questions or conversation about your will or estate plan, please feel free to reach out to:

John Hyatt

Director of Development

john.hyatt@novabucks.org

(215)-589-2046

A huge thank-you to the Bucks County Clerk of Courts Office for participating in Denim Day this past April and helping raise $100 for NOVA! Your support makes a difference in the fight to end sexual violence.

One of the many perks of having a dog foster mom as our Director of Client Services are surprise office visits from adorable pups! Recently, we were lucky enough to spend the day with the sweetest, most snuggly lap dog around.

The Bucks County CAC presented a workshop that served as an overview of the medical evaluation for children with allegations of child abuse, how it can benefit children, and how investigators can best discuss the medical evaluation with families and caregivers.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons for BCAT's screening of the documentary "Surviving Sex Trafficking." Your presence and participation helped shine a light on the realities survivors face and the strength they carry.

"Everyone had our child's best interest in mind. Everyone was friendly and made a difficult time easier."

- NOVA Client

NOVA Awarded Grant To Restore Victims Arbor At Core Creek Park

The commemorative arbor was established in 1998 by families of homicide victims with the support of the Bucks County Commissioners.

Foundations Community Partnership Invests in Healing and Growth at NOVA

NOVA is proud to highlight our long-time partner, Foundations Community Partnership (FCP), for their continued generosity and commitment to strengthening our community. This summer, FCP awarded NOVA a $7,500 Capital Improvement Grant to support the renovation of the NOVA Training Room. This grant will help transform NOVA's Training Room into a Multi-Purpose Training & Healing Space - a trauma-informed environment that promotes healing, learning, and connection.

This revitalized space will serve as a welcoming hub for group counseling, trauma-informed yoga, staff trainings, and community events, allowing NOVA to expand its impact and better meet the needs of those we serve.

For more than 17 years, FCP has been a dedicated partner to NOVA, supporting both programs and capital improvements. Their continued generosity helps us provide compassionate services, prevention programs, and advocacy for victims of crime in Bucks County. We are incredibly thankful for their ongoing support and continued commitment to NOVA’s mission.

Thank you to Foundations Community Partnership for being a Voice Against Violence and for standing alongside NOVA in building a safer, healthier community for all.

We are so grateful for our partnerships. Thank you for being a Voice Against Violence in our community!

Whether you donate an item from NOVA's Wish List, funds, or your time, know you are making a difference.

www.novabucks.org | 24-7 Helpline: 1-800-675-6900