Kitchener - On Monday, June 15th, the first annual George Voisin Invitational Golf Tournament will raise money for CFCC’s coordination of the Family Violence Project of Waterloo Region. The FVP is also a first – the first of its kind in Canada. Inspired by a successful program in San Diego, the Family Violence Project was formed in Kitchener-Waterloo in order to provide a more effective, welcoming, client-centred and easy to navigate system for women, children, and men who are victims of domestic violence. This project has brought together under one roof 13 agencies and services that offer assistance to these victims. Together the Partners provide a coordinated effort to address the needs of victims – be it police trained to deal with family violence, personal counselling for adults and children, assistance with developing safety plans, shelters, crisis/medical support for sexual assault, financial counselling, children's services, support groups, outreach services to the community, court-support services, specialized elder abuse services, rural outreach services and specialized programs.

The collaborative Partners are committed to working together to help families to find emotional and physical safety and to work with the community to end the cycle of violence that so often damages and destroys families and communities. The Family Violence Project provides a one stop access point to key services for victims and their families, and includes The Waterloo Regional Police Service’s Domestic Violence Investigations Branch, Elder Abuse Response Team and Victims Services Unit, the Waterloo Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre, Women’s Crisis Services, Catholic Family Counselling Centre’s Counselling, Credit Counselling Services, Dental Project, and Relocation Project, The Crown Attorney’s Office, Community Action Program for Children, Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region, Community Care Access Centre, and the Victim/Witness Assistance Program.

“Victims of family violence who come through the door looking for help can choose to use one or all of these services,” says Pam Mank, Coordinator, Family Violence Project, “and, in doing so, will have someone they can trust to walk them through the whole process, to make the connections that are just down the hall, and to give them the security and assurance that they are not alone, that this is a shared journey.”

The Family Violence Project of Waterloo Region would not exist without the tremendous support of this community. George Voisin knew this. Before his untimely death on July 22, 2008, through his dedication to this community and his insights from his law practice, George saw the value of this project and put his full support behind it. A philanthropist, George supported many charities, but his greatest passion rested with the importance of strong and healthy families and the need to eradicate domestic violence. This is why his family, in George’s memory, has chosen to have a tournament that brings together George’s passion for golf in support of his greatest cause.

The tournament will be held on Monday, June 15th at 12 noon at the prestigious Westmount Golf and Country Club. (Banquet at 6 p.m.)The goal is to raise $125,000 for the CFCC Coordination of the Family Violence Project.