upcoming Events

Voices of Courage Awards luncheon

April 27, 2013: 12:00-2:00pm

Madison Masonic Center
301 Wisconsin Ave., Madison

Join us April 27th to recognize the extraordinary work being done throughout Wisconsin. The Voices of Courage Awards ceremony honors the outstanding work of Wisconsin individuals and organizations that have exceeded the very highest standards in their dedicated efforts to end sexual violence and support survivors.

Event Information

Cost: $10

* Attendees of the Survivors & Allies Task Force attend for free.

Registration Extended to April 22nd, 2013. Please note: Registration submitted without payment does not guarantee a spot; payment must also be received.

REGISTER HERE

Or download Registration Form to print and mail in.

This year the Annual awards are given to eleven people in eight categories. This year’s Voices of Courage recipients are: 

• Dawn Helmrich, Director of Data and Outcomes at United Way of Greater Milwaukee, and McKenna Nerone, a Senior at Wauwatosa East High School, in the Community Support category
• Joshua Grube, Deputy District Attorney of Walworth County in the Criminal Justice Category
• Cherri Stillwell, Advocate at Abuse Education in the Classroom, and Jamie Stephany, Information Coordinator at L.I.N.K.E.D. of Brown County, co-nominated in the Courage category
• Sarah Cleveland, Teacher at Neenah High School in the Prevention Education category
• Molly Herrmann, Wisconsin AIDS/HIV Program in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in the Health & Human Services category
• MaryBeth Grice, Volunteer Advocate at Sexual Assault Recover Program, and Shelby Mitchell, Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, Safe Haven in the Victim/Survivor Advocacy category
• Joe Prillwitz, Guidance Counselor at Mosinee High School in the Lifetime Achievement category
• Jen Hopper, Musician will receive a special Survivor to Thriver award

April 27th: The Survivors & Allies Task Force Meeting, Voices of Courage and the 2nd Annual Wrap Around the Capitol are all part of a bigger picture: to share strength, wisdom and vision as survivors and allies; to recognize the work being done across the Wisconsin; and to show our support for survivors of sexual violence in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Download a flier of the day's events to distribute in your community.

Note: To view PDF files, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.0 or higher.  If you do not have the correct version, you can download the latest version for free here:

Previous Recipients:

2012 Voices of Courage Award Recipients:

• Ellen Schwartz, Advocate, Sexual Assault Recovery Program of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin & Richard Cowan, (her husband) of Green Co. in the Community Support category
• Miriam Falk, Assistant District Attorney, Milwaukee County, in the Criminal Justice category
• Naomi Lafferty, of Passages, Inc, and Scott, Wisconsin resident, in the Courage category
• Carmen Hotvedt, Violence Prevention Specialist, University Health Services, UW-Madison, in the Prevention Education category
• Pauline Mau, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Monroe Clinic ER, in the Health & Human Services category
• Vicki Biehn, Rural Services Coordinator & Therapist, Sexual Assault Services of Lutheran Social Services, in the Victim/Survivor Advocacy category
• Senator Julie Lassa (D, 24^th Senate District), Senator Robert Cowles (R, 2^nd Senate District), and Representative Jim Steineke (R 5^th Assembly District) in the Public Policy category
• Arline Hillestad, Executive Director of the Family Center,  and Elizabeth Ghilardi, Forensic Interview Program Supervisor, Child Protection Center, Children’s Hospital, in the Lifetime Achievement category

2011 Voices of Courage Award Recipients:

• Health and Human Services: Carolyn Nash, Marshfield Clinic Wausau Center, Wausau
• Community Support: Philip Allen Jr., Minister, Dayster Christian Fellowship, Beloit
• Prevention Education Award
  Fox Valley Voices of Men – Leadership Team, Appleton
• Reveille Award: Gina Barton, Investigative Reporter (Crime, courts), Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• Criminal Justice: Wade Newell, Chippewa County Assistant District Attorney, Chippewa Falls
• Public Policy: Joe Parisi, Dane County Executive, Madison
• Public Policy: Sara Finger, Executive Director, Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, Madison
• Victim/Survivor Advocacy: Sandy DeWalt, Volunteer Advocate, Sexual Assault Services of Lutheran Social Services, Racine
• Courage: Maija Cruz, Milwaukee 
•  Lifetime Achievement: Susan Lockwood, Sexual Assault Center and Child Advocacy Center of Family Services, Green Bay
• Lifetime Achievement: Linda Schroeder, Manitowoc County Human Services – Child Protection, Manitowoc

2010 Voices of Courage Awards Recipients: 

• Victim/Survivor/Advocacy: Carmen McBride, Milwaukee
• Prevention Education: Linda Selk-Yerges, ASTOP, Fond du Lac
• Health and Human Services: Debbie Donovan, Auora/SATC, Milwaukee
• Community Support: Marcia Dull, Logan High School, La Crosse
• Public Policy: Winn Collins, Green Lake County DA’s Office, Green Lake
• Courage: Kathleen Gean, Public Advocate, Milwaukee
• Criminal Justice: Chief Mark Richert, North Hudson Police Department; SART Board Chair, Hudson
• Lifetime Achievement: Ann Ranfranz, Milwaukee County DA’s Office, Milwaukee
• Lifetime Achievement: Marion Morgan, City of Madison Police Department, Madison

2009 Voices of Courage Award Recipients:

• Victim/Survivor/Advocacy: Melinda Hughes, The Healing Center in Milwaukee
• Prevention Education: SAAM Student Leaders and Advisor, of the St. Mary Springs High School in Fond du Lac
• Health and Human Services: Carolyn Kuether, Coordinator of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program for Dunn County in Menomonie
• Community Support: Waushara County CCRT, in Waushara County
• Courage: ASTOP Teen Group in Fond du Lac
• Criminal Justice: Chief Jim Arts, Lt. Mike Nick, and Retired Commander Al Van Haute, Green Bay Police Department
• Lifetime Achievement: Deb Butler, Director of LCO Oakwood Haven in Hayward
• Lifetime Achievement (posthumous): Helen Kelly, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)Program for SATC in Milwaukee

2008 Voices of Courage Award Recipients:

• Victim/Survivor Advocacy: Terri DeWalt, Sexual Assault Services/Luthern Social Services, Racine County
• Prevention Education: VOICE, Marquette University
• Health and Human Services: Sue Robertson and St. Vincent Hospital SANE program, Green Bay
• Community Support: A Disability Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), Brown County, WI
• Public Policy: Representative Terry Musser, Representative Mark Pocan and Senator Judy Robson
• Courage: Peter Isely, SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests)
• Criminal Justice: Tim Gruenke, La Crosse County DA’s Office
• Lifetime Achievement: Shirley Frederickson, A Bridge to Hope, Dunn and Pepin Counties