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| Paula Lucas |
Portland-based Charity Celebrates 5 Years of Rescuing American Families from Hell Abroad
posted: 04/26/2006
Portland, OR – What’s life like in a domestic violence shelter for residents who are, homeless, penniless, and have nowhere to go? For Paula Lucas, it was inspiring; because it’s where she first started her organization to help American women like her flee domestic abuse in foreign countries and return home with their children.
The American Domestic Violence Crisis Line, 866-USWomen, is the only organization that’s toll-free to over 175 countries and works to help American women and children escape abusive situations and return home to the US. On May 6, the ADVCL will celebrate five years of international service with a dinner and auction at the Chelsea Ballroom in Portland. According to estimates from the Association of American Residents Overseas, the American Institute on Domestic Violence, and the International Child Abuse Network, there are well over 100,000 American women and children who are living overseas and are victims of domestic abuse every year. The American Domestic Violence Crisis Line provides support for fleeing trans-nationally, including flights back home, with the help of Virgin Airlines. Once they arrive, the ADVCL provides transitional housing and a legal retainer so women can fight for custody of the children. Each family they serve costs the organization thousands of dollars, but, says founder Lucas, “When we help bring these women and children home, we’re bring them home from a life of terror and, for many, a death sentence.” Lucas and her three boys lived such a life until fleeing Dubai after 12 years of horror. Lucas’s husband was a perfect catch in every way until they moved to the Middle East after their wedding. Then he slowly became unrecognizable, unleashing his rage on Lucas and her children. Day to day life revolved around not doing anything to trigger his anger.
Lucas eventually escaped her abusive husband by forging his signature on a check and buying airline tickets to America. She survived, and now she helps others escape domestic violence overseas. Five years after the American Domestic Violence Crisis Line went live, Lucas has heard more horror stories like hers than one could imagine, but she is gratified every day by the small steps these women take toward escaping and returning with their children to the US.
ADVCL’s 5th Anniversary Dinner and Auction will celebrate these changed lives and the sponsors, staff, and volunteers who have helped make these changes possible. The event’s corporate sponsors are Volvo Cars of North America, Wells Capital Management – Benson Value Team, and The Consulting Shop.com. In kind sponsors include SakeOne and Portland Style Cheesecake and media sponsor KUPL. Saketinis provided by SakeOne during the silent auction. Music provided by pianist Linda Smith. Dinner and post oral auction entertainment by the J-Rob Jazz Trio. Auction items include a weekend at a condo in SunRiver, a weekend at a Beach House in Lincoln City that sleeps 15, pond construction and landscaping, romance on the River getaway package for two at Avalon Hotel & Spa and dinner at McCormick & Schmicks Harborside, a teambuilding package at Laserport including lasertag games and food, and lots of other fun stuff. Visit www.866USWomen.org/auction/ for more information and to purchase tickets.
How You Can Help Paula Lucas
To learn more about Paula and her cause, and how you can make a difference, please visit: www.866USWomen.org.
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