How House of Ruth is helping those impacted by domestic violence

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - 7/12/2017

July 12--House of Ruth volunteers and supporters are committed to providing a safety net for those involved in abusive relationships.

The nonprofit has come a long way since Claremont graduate student Kathy Hofeller and fellow graduate students set up a single emergency phone line on her kitchen table as her way of helping to mend people's lives shattered by domestic violence.

"The grad students started the hotline as part of their thesis process, but they saw that the demand was so great. So they decided to incorporate. They secured a grant and bought a house, which became our first shelter," said Pat Bell, House of Ruth director of development.

Others took their work to heart in 1977 and both the organization and program has expanded. Now, 40 years later, House of Ruth has become an important link to helping to prevent domestic violence.

House of Ruth recently hosted its early summer fundraiser at The Farm at the Fairplex in Pomona. Under balmy evening skies, supporters gathered to recognize the nonprofit's work and successes while continually looking ahead. In fact, a grand birthday bash is set for 6 p.m.Nov. 11 at the Fairplex Sheraton. Tickets are $150 and sponsorships are being sought.

Sponsorships helped indeed at the recent fundraiser. Bell said the organization is grateful to Wescom, Claremont Toyota and InterValley Health Plan as well as Fairplex for providing the lovely venue. Sponsorships help defray costs and allows money to be spent directly for programs. The emergency hotline still exists but it's also backed with a dedicated group ready and willing to offer shelter, counseling and life-skills training. The nonprofit maintains an outreach office in Pomona, a confidential 55-bed shelter in Los Angeles County and small outreach office in Ontario. Ultimately, the goal is to end domestic violence to help individuals put their lives back together.

It encompasses a huge service territory, helping more than 5,000 individuals each year and educating more than 13,000 youngsters, teens and adults about domestic violence prevention.

"We're trying to get on the front end of it by letting people know how to watch for it and how to avoid it," Bell said.

House of Ruth is there to offer life-saving domestic violence services for those living in eastern Los Angeles and western San Bernardino counties. Services are available for all battered women, men, and their children. Best of all, services are free. The aim is the safety and well-being of victims so every home can be a safe home.

"Over the course of 40 years, we want to celebrate because we have established our reputation as leaders in the domestic violence movement," Bell said. "We get requests often for our expertise and our strength and our knowledge."

In spite of great strides, however, the number of cases of domestic violence is as strong as it ever has been. "But we do think we are getting some traction on awareness.''

For more information about House of Ruth, the gala or helping the organization, call 909-623-4364.

Seen at the Scene -- Dr. Devorah Lieberman and Roger Auerbach; Pat Bell; Parag Chakravarti; Mita Banerjee; Carmen Fought; Marisa Fierro; and Ron and Eliza Bolding.

Walmart Foundation grant given -- Lisa Risner, Pomona Walmart Neighborhood Market store manager, and Mike Acheson, Walmart Market manager, recently presented a $25,000 grant to the Pomona-based Inland Valley Hope Partners for its work in helping provide food and shelter to those in need. Wytske Visser, president and chief executive officer of Hope Partners, and Sharonda White, Hope Partners board vice chairwoman, accepted the check. Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval also attended the ceremony.

The grant will help Hope Partners provide meals for almost 4,000 people in Pomona and throughout the Inland Empire. It also will go toward the purchase of a new forklift to more efficiently move the 60,000 pounds of food that the nonprofit processes each month.

Send news of social events with charitable purposes to SSproul@scng.com or on Twitter @SuzanneSproul. Include a contact phone number. Attach high-resolution JPEG photos, and include group name and identification of individuals from left to right.

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