When you hear “domestic violence survivor,” do you feel uncomfortable, or do you experience a sense of strength and purpose? For me, it is the latter as I advocate for survivors as a Direct Volunteer and Vice President of the Board for the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC).

My journey with this amazing organization started many years ago during a Vanguard “Day of Service,” where a group of volunteers look to make a difference for a non-profit organization. I spent the day organizing their emergency clothing room and through that, learned more about the services the agency provides, including housing programs, counseling services, legal assistance, and education and outreach programs to the community. Each piece of clothing that I was folding and organizing was going to clothe a child or adult who needed the support of this agency to help break the cycle of domestic violence. It was at that moment I knew this was where my philanthropic focus would be.

Me and Freddie

After learning more about the agency through other project activities, I took the next step becoming a Direct Volunteer which entailed a 45-hour training, five-hour practicum, and criminal clearances. I worked directly with survivors, alongside my therapy dog Freddie, and learned that everyone’s survivor story is different, and that domestic violence does not discriminate upon someone’s age, gender, race, religion, nor socioeconomic status.

The one consistency I saw through these experiences was courage and resiliency. Courage and resiliency for a survivor to reclaim their lives, their happiness, and the dignity that every human deserves. Courage and resiliency for employees who face the effects of domestic violence every day and continue to empower survivors on their journey of freedom. Courage and resiliency for volunteers and board members, some who are survivors themselves, to advocate for a socially uncomfortable topic which has now become amplified today as “a pandemic within the pandemic.”

I recently received the Pennsylvania Governor’s Victim Service Pathfinder Award for my community service with the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County.

Working with survivors and seeing the challenges they faced empowered me to increase my impact in the organization. I am humbled to share that I was elected to the Board of Directors three years ago. The industry experience I gained at Vanguard, including participating in their non-profit board training, along with my organizational experience being a direct volunteer, gave me a unique perspective to be able to represent differing stakeholders impacted by the agency. And the Board experience allows me to expand my knowledge in areas of interest that I may not experience in my day-to-day activities.

I reflect on my community service journey as non-profit organizations, like DVCCC, need the support and talent of professionals to achieve their goals and have a positive impact in society. If you are interested in getting involved, here are a few things to consider:

• Find your passion – What are your values? What drives you? Do you have a personal connection to the cause? Find the organizations that best connect with you. Just like working out, if you are doing exercises you don’t like, you won’t stick with it – same goes for engaging with non-profits.
• Start small – Whether it is through a day of volunteering or attending an event, get to know the vibe of the agency you are looking to support to see if it resonates with you. This can help you determine your focus.
• Focus on one – Although there are so many worthy agencies and causes, focusing on one will allow you to learn more about those you serve and in what capacity you want to serve.
• Learn to say no – This might seem like a strange one, but know your limits. If you say yes to something and can’t follow through, this could negatively affect someone’s life. Know how much time, treasure, and talent that you can dedicate without disrupting other areas of your life.
• Aspire to advocacy – As you found your passion and see how your contributions positively impact the organization, evolve from volunteer level to advocate. Both roles are critical to the success of a non-profit, but becoming an advocate enables your impact to grow exponentially. This could mean you become a Board Member, vocal promoter, financial backer, etc. of the agency you believe in. It is a superpower that many have but need to unleash to make the world a better place.

As Vanguard’s founder John Bogle used to say, “Even one person can make a difference.” Being a fierce advocate for those breaking the cycle of violence, I aspire to live those words every day and I hope sharing my philanthropic journey will inspire you to make your own difference.

-Lara D.