SASS News
SASS and the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County have been chosen as the beneficiaries for the 2013 Seacoast Half Marathon! http://www.seacoasthalfmarathon.com/
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2nd Annual Kids Are Our Business Breakfast
From The Portsmouth Herald, April 3, 2013
By Charles Mcmahon
PORTSMOUTH — "What would you do if you weren't afraid?"
That was the question Portsmouth Herald photojournalist Deb Cram asked Tuesday before a crowd of supporters who gathered at the Portsmouth Harbor Events Center for the 2013 Kids Are Our Business Breakfast hosted by Sexual Assault Support Services.
"Everyone in this room has let fear stop them in some capacity," said Cram, who served as keynote speaker for the second annual event. "Fear is what feeds the secrets. It keeps it alive, keeps it thriving."
Having attended the inaugural SASS event last year that featured Detective Rick Labell of the Raymond Police Department, Cram's path to confronting her fear came full circle Tuesday. Much like Labell, who shared stories of his childhood family abuse, Cram took center stage during the event to open up about her own abuse as a young girl.
Her appearance comes after a whirlwind year in which Cram, now 51, detailed her abusive childhood through a production she helped create called "Click: A Journey of Abuse and Survival" at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre.
Today, Cram said, she makes it her mission to conquer fear.
"When I get to a point in the day where I'm afraid of something, I say, 'screw it' and I do it," she said. "I take the risk, and it's usually worth it."
During her roughly 13-minute talk, Cram shared a story about a friend she grew up with who was sexually abused by her father from second to sixth grade. The friend, who Cram said was forced to deal with the abuse for years, ended up lighting herself on fire.
"I remember she was running down the streets of Somersworth, just a ball of fire," Cram said.
The girl survived thanks to a police officer, but she was hospitalized for months. Cram said it was a shame that something like SASS wasn't around back then for her friend.
"If it was, I bet it would've made a difference," she said.
Cram said she also recalled an instance where she and her mother and brother were forced to hide behind a stone wall while her father shot at them with a gun.
"I remember it like it was yesterday," she said.
Another story Cram said she won't soon forget involved watching as her father beat her mother. Cram said she remembers going wild trying to defend her mother.
"I ran in there and told my dad to stop hitting her," she said. "He hit me and then kept pounding on her."
Cram also shared a story of the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of her foster mother at the age of 14. She said she remembers being made to feel like she could not talk about it with anyone.
"She said I couldn't tell anyone," he said.
Because of that, Cram said, her experience in high school was hell and her life was forever changed.
"I always slept with a bat under my bed and a knife under my pillow," she said.
But regardless of the fear she experienced growing up, Cram said Tuesday that she felt more confident than ever about confronting those emotions.
"I'm here because I want to stop the secrets," she said. "I'm 50 years old and kept thinking,
Click: A Journey of Abuse and Survival
December 4, 2012
Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Portsmouth, NH
Directed by local filmmaker and writer Lars Trodson, "Click" told Cram's story of living with a physically abusive father and, later, a sexually abusive foster mother.
Women's Empowerment Workshop
December 1 and 2, 2012
Rasamaya Movement Center Studio, Dover NH
Documentary filmmakers announced a world tour and women's empowerment workshop aiming to empower women through movement workshops, photography, writing and film. The Shakti Revolution workshop utilizes yoga, meditation, music and Thai Bodywork as tools to help women to dive deeply into their emotional body in a safe and supportive environment. The creators are strongly motivated to the idea of paying it forward in the world and donated 25% of the profit from the workshop to SASS.
Seacoast Half Marathon
November 11, 2012
Portsmouth, NH
Huge kudos and thanks to the members of the 2012 Running for You(th)! Half Marathon Training Team for completing the race! The team collectively raised over $10,000 to support the SASS "Safe Kids. Strong Teens." Prevention Education Program. This year the team was once again Coached by Jack Davis, and sponsored by Martin's Point Health Care. Many thanks to Jack for his expertise and Martin's Point for their support.
Soaring for SASS
October 13, 2012
Skydive New England, Lebanon ME
Soaring for SASS once again raised funds for our "Safe Kids. Strong Teens." Prevention Education Program by having participants jump out of a plane! It's was great fun and an experience of a lifetime for our brave jumpers.
Community Supper Night
July 10 and July 17, 2012
Robert's Maine Grill, Kittery ME
SASS was the designated charity to receive 5% of the sales on these dates. Thankk you to all who visited Robert's on these special nights!
Somersworth Children's Festival
June 16, 2012
Downtown Somersworth NH
SASS had a booth with program information, and space for kids to color the winning 2012 Keeping Kids SAFE t-shirt.
1st Annual Kids Are Our Business Breakfast
May 17, 2012, 8:00am-9:30am
Portsmouth Harbor Events and Conference Center
The event brought together business and community leaders to raise awareness of the prevalence of child victimization. It also served to highlight the "Safe Kids. Strong Teens." prevention education program and reviewed what the agency has been doing to help end the cycle of violence.
Children's Day
May 6, 2012
Downtown Portsmouth
This festival combined family-friendly activities and entertainment sponsored and hosted by the Downtown Merchants. The SASS table hosted kids coloring the winning 2012 Keeping Kids SAFE t-shirts, as well as information on our programs and services.
FlatBread Pizza Night
April 10, 2012
138 Congress St, Portsmouth NH
The Flatbread Company once again graciously hosted an evening filled with organic pizza, drinks and desserts. A portion of the proceeds went towards SASS programming.