NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Inducts 3 into Hall of Fame

On Oct. 28, in Amherst, the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence hosted the fifth annual Coalition Hall of Fame Luncheon at LaBelle Winery in Amherst. This event celebrates the work of individuals who have a passion for ending domestic and sexual violence and stalking and have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make New Hampshire a safer state. The Coalition also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the AmeriCorps Victim Assistance Program. This year’s inductees are:

• Senator Donna Soucy
• Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice
• Grafton County Attorney Lara Saffo

In addition, this year the Coalition presented the first ever Media Ally Award to Drew Cline of the New Hampshire Union Leader. You can read information on each of the inductees and about the AmeriCorps Victim Assistance Program at the end of this press release.

At the event, Coalition Board Chair Elizabeth Garon, Esq. stated: “This event started as a way for the Coalition to say thank you to all of the people across the state who are working tirelessly on behalf of victims of domestic and sexual violence and stalking. It has grown into a really special day for us.”

The Coalition was honored to be joined by dignitaries at every level of government, including U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, and Governor Maggie Hassan.

“Today I thank most importantly the survivors and their families who have inspired us with their courage, day in and day out. New Hampshire will continue to support all survivors, and all victims, and all families, as you go forward and recover and seek justice. And we will continue to do the work we need to do to prevent domestic and sexual violence in the first place,” said Governor Hassan during her remarks at today’s luncheon.

Hall of Fame Inductee Senator Donna Soucy elaborated when referencing Joshua’s Law, which was passed during this past legislation session and takes effect on January 1, 2015: “I accept this award with Becky Ranes [mother of Joshua Savyon], because she used her voice to forever change the state of New Hampshire, to make us all aware of how important it is that we distinguish various crimes as crimes of domestic violence. I’m honored to have helped amplify her voice to make a change that will impact people’s lives going forward.”

2014 Coalition Hall of Fame Inductees

Senator Donna Soucy

Serving in her first term representing District 18 as a member of the Judiciary committee, Senator Donna Soucy has become a champion for victims’ protections in her sponsorship of Joshua’s Law, which made domestic violence a specific crime in New Hampshire, distinguishing it from other assaults. This year, Senator Soucy sponsored Senate Bill 317 which dramatically strengthened New Hampshire’s human trafficking law. SB 317 protects victims, while ensuring that traffickers never find a safe haven in New Hampshire. Senator Soucy was also the co-sponsor of SB 253, which will protect rape victims who become pregnant as a result of their sexual assault, and their children, from further abuse from their rapist, and SB 390, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who are victims of domestic violence. Throughout her career as a lawyer in the public and private sector, three terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, two terms as an Alderman representing Ward 6 in Manchester, a member of the Board of School Committee, the first female chair of the Manchester Fire Commission, and the Senate Chief of Staff from 2006 to 2010, Senator Soucy has dedicated her life to making New Hampshire a safer place for everyone.

Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice

Ann Rice, JD, is the Deputy Attorney General of New Hampshire and has been with the Attorney General’s Office for 24 years, serving over the course of her career there as a homicide prosecutor, Chief of the Criminal Appellate Unit, and Director of the Division of Public Protection. In addition she served for six years as a Commissioner for the New Hampshire Victims’ Compensation Commission which helps innocent victims of violent crime with expenses directly related to crime injuries. As a homicide prosecutor, she worked closely to support the family members of victims, many of whom were lost to abuse. Deputy Rice has testified on numerous pieces of legislation pertaining to domestic and sexual violence and child abuse and her policy work has helped New Hampshire remain at the forefront of progressive victims’ protection laws. During this year’s legislative session, she worked to draft Joshua’s Law, which makes domestic violence a crime, and her testimony was key to its passage. Deputy Rice’s commitment to victims’ rights has earned her the respect of her colleagues, legislators, and key stakeholders.

Grafton County Attorney Lara Saffo

Lara Saffo, JD, is committed to treating survivors with the utmost dignity and respect. She pursues justice for victims, even in the most difficult of cases, and always focuses on the best interests of survivors. From 2002 until she became County Attorney in 2009, she was the Violence Against Women Act prosecutor at the Office of the Grafton County Attorney. Though she has prosecuted hundreds of cases involving all types of crimes, she has specialized in sexual assault and domestic violence. In college and law school, she worked at domestic violence shelters, and took on cases representing victims of childhood sexual abuse while working as a civil attorney. She has testified on several key victim protection bills, including the successful 2010 effort to make strangulation a felony. Currently, she is working to expand Sexual Assault Resource Teams in Grafton County, and she serves as an advisory board member for the Grafton and Sullivan County Child Advocacy Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She serves on the NH Attorney General’s Commission to Combat Human Trafficking, and is a member of the protocol review committees for both the Adult Sexual Assault Protocols and Human Trafficking Protocols.

Drew Cline
At a time when the issues of domestic and sexual violence have dominated the headlines like never before it has become critical that we have allies in the media who are willing to talk about these issues in an informed manner. Drew has consistently done this as the editorial page editor of The New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire SundayNews in Manchester, N.H. He also received the New Hampshire Press Association Editorial Writer of the Year award in 2010 and 2011. Previously, he was a reporter and director of publications for the John Locke Foundation in Raleigh, N.C., and wrote a weekly column for The News & Observer of Raleigh. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The AmeriCorps Victim Assistance Program (AVAP) is a multi-agency collaboration coordinated by the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence designed to address critical service needs in our communities and justice systems by ensuring services are available to victims of domestic and sexual violence and stalking throughout New Hampshire, and promoting community service and a lifetime commitment to volunteerism. AVAP is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service and Volunteer New Hampshire.

You can read about our past Hall of Fame inductees at http://www.nhcadsv.org/halloffame.cfm

The New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV) is a statewide network committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking. The NHCADSV and its 14 member programs do not discriminate based on gender, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical, mental, or emotional ability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socio-economic status, race, national origin, immigration status, or religious or political affiliation. Online at www.nhcadsv.org

Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-277-5570 ● Domestic Violence Hotline 1-866-644-3574.

Submitted text and photos.