VERO BEACH — SafeSpace is proud to announce that the keynote speaker for the 2012 Every Woman is My Sister events will be Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos.
This year’s event is a gala fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at Grand Harbor Golf Club to celebrate the survivors, the victims of domestic violence who have triumphed in shaping better, safer lives for themselves and their children.
Dr. Haridopolos, a family practitioner and wife of Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos and mother to three children, is celebrating her own survival by encouraging other victims. She told her story of past domestic violence publicly for the first time late last year.
“Let me be your voice,” Dr. Haridopolos says. “If my story can help other victims come forward, then it’s well worth sharing.”
SafeSpace created its signature Every Woman is My Sister event two years ago to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence. Since then, the agency took the words of its inaugural speaker, Denise Brown, as a rallying cry to bring the issue often treated as a “dirty little secret” out in the open.
SafeSpace, the Treasure Coast’s only domestic violence center, empowers victims by offering them safety in one of its two 24-bed shelters, support and education to help them shape a positive self-direction in their lives.
Dr. Haridopolos credits education with helping her escape her abuser, and has become an advocate for several health-related bills in Tallahassee, including the landmark “pill mill” legislation that was adopted last year to limit distribution of addictive pain killers. This year, she plans to continue her role as advocate, supporting domestic violence issues and helping to dispel the stereotypes of domestic violence victims.
“Domestic violence knows no boundaries between races, classes and income brackets,” she said. “You can be pretty, successful and well-educated, and you still could be a victim of domestic violence.”
Tickets are $125 a person and can be obtained by calling Tracy Levy at 772-223-2399.
Sponsorship opportunities also are available. For more information, call Jill Borowicz, SafeSpace CEO at 772-223-2399.