Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support held its 25th Annual Luncheon on
Friday, May 11, 2018, at the Hilton Anatole, featuring Academy Award-winning
actress Hilary Swank as keynote speaker. More than 1,500 people came together
to take a stand on behalf of women and children who have experienced domestic
violence, and to let the community know that there is help and there is hope.
Interviewed by WFAA health and wellness reported Sonia Azad,
Hilary Swank spoke with authenticity and passion about the pervasiveness of
domestic violence. “It could be any of us, but no woman expects it to be her,”
she remarked. Swank shared that, on a fundamental level, all people want to
love and be loved. “Having someone you can trust is so important,” she said.
“It’s why Genesis is changing lives. These women have the faith and the courage
to break the pattern of violence and to say ‘no more.’”
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| Co-Chairs Jane & Michael Hurst, Keynote Speaker Hilary Swank, and Jan Langbein, CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support |
Adding clothing designer to her stellar list of accomplishments,
Swank started her clothing line, Mission Statement, to merge high-performance
with high-fashion for the perfect balance of movement. She encouraged all women
to live their own personal mission statements. "I made it a personal
mission to make sure that nobody felt like they didn't belong,” Swank said. “We
all belong. We are given an opportunity to learn and grow and find like-minded
people to share the journey."
Luncheon Co-Chairs Jane and Michael Hurst welcomed the
near-capacity crowd with stirring opening remarks. “Over 180,000 incidents of
domestic violence are reported in Texas every year,” Michael Hurst shared.
“Today, we stand with nearly 1,600 men and women in this room who have decided
that we will be a woman’s first step away from abuse,” he concluded.
Rev. Dr. Sheron Patterson, Senior
Pastor of Hamilton Park United Methodist Church, then gave the invocation using
her signature, extended “amen” shout.
While
attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch of mandarin orange and strawberry salad,
crispy stuffed chicken with orzo, and dark chocolate mousse cake or berry tart,
Jane and Michael spoke about how they became involved with Genesis because they
want to raise their teenage son and daughter to know what healthy relationships
look like. “As a mom of teenagers, like I’m sure every other mom would be, I am
deeply concerned with the statistics facing boys and girls when it comes to
domestic violence. It is for our children’s safety that we stand here today
committed to being a woman’s first step away from abuse,” Jane stated.
Jane
and Michael also recognized the 2018 Jane Doe Award recipient, Legal Aid of
Northwest Texas for their work providing high-quality civil legal
representation to low-income families, including clients of Genesis who have
little to no access to resources due to financial abuse.
Genesis
HeROs Board President, Crayton Webb, implored gentle men in the room to say
that, when it comes to ending violence against women, “count us in.” He
recognized the 2018 HeRO Award recipient, the Honorable Roberto Cañas, who
presides over Dallas County Criminal Court #10 – one of only six U.S.
Department of Justice Domestic Violence Mentor Courts in the country. Cañas was
also honored for his efforts to save lives by enforcing a gun surrender program
that keeps guns out of the hands of abusers.
Genesis CEO Jan Langbein spoke about
the graduate-level course on the issues of sexual harassment and sexual
assault this country has received from countless women who have come forward to
say #MeToo over the past year. “These movements have given silenced victims
both a voice and encouragement, allowing solidarity with millions of others who
have experienced the same. Where there was once isolation by design, there is
now a national community of support through social media, giving women the courage
to come out of the dark and into the light,” she remarked.
Luncheon guests arrived into the sunshine yellow springtime of
the Anatole’s Chantilly Ballroom filled with arrangements of yellow tulips and
white peonies from The Garden Gate florist. Yellow tissue paper peeked out of gift
bags for every guest, thanks to beauty sponsor Mary Kay Inc. Dramatic panels
featuring the Genesis logo in lemon yellow stood behind white flowery trees that
flanked the stage, and bobbing white balloons signified volunteers circulating
the room selling raffle tickets for four tempting packages.
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| Hilary Swank chats with Sonia Azad of WFAA |
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