Concho Valley Rape Crisis Celebrates 25 Years in San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX - On September 29, the Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center (CVRCC) will celebrate its 25^th year of service in the San Angelo community. To celebrate, the CVRCC is hosting The Art for Hope Gala art auction fundraiser at the Cactus Hotel Ballroom, 36 E. Twohig.

Tickets for the event are $25 per person. The fundraiser will include dinner, music by Manny Campos, wine, and a silent and live auction. Wine has been donated by Pinkies, and a cash bar will also be available.

The CVRCC is a nonprofit rape crisis center that offers victims services as well as education. CVRCC serves Tom Green county and 10 surrounding counties including Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher and Sutton.

Karla Payne, Executive Director of CVRCC said, “This year is our 25^th anniversary, so we will be telling [everyone] a little bit about the history of the center, and several people who were staff and board members when [the CVRCC] began are going to be there.”

The goal of the event is to raise $15,000 to provide services to victims of sexual assault/abuse so the agency can continue to provide education and prevention about sexual violence in the community. CVRCC also provides support and assistance to the LGBT+ community.

“We offer direct services to victims of sexual assault, and to anyone who has been affected by someone else’s victimization,” explained Payne. “We do a lot of primary prevention so that we can try to stop sexual abuse from even happening in the first place.”

Payne said, “We offer 24-hour hotline, 24-hour emergency room accompaniment, advocacy, professional counseling and information referrals.”

CVRCC is also seeking volunteers from the community to answer hotlines, go to hospitals and form a group to help with LGBT services. If someone wants to become a volunteer, they can call and talk to Amanda at (325)655-2000, or email [email protected]. Possible volunteers can also go to the CVRCC website and apply online under the volunteer tab.

CVRCC just added new LGBT services last year.

“Anyone who is having problems and wants to talk to somebody can come in,” Payne added.

Payne ended by saying, “[Money raised] will help us continue to offer our services to victims and people effected by sexual violence, and also to help us continue our education services, awareness events and LGBT services.”