In Crisis
DVS Spring Luncheon
JOURNEY TO HEALING
Every spring, we bring the community together in a safe space to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence, shed a light on domestic violence as a community health issue, and invite the community to come alongside us in advocating for change for the more than 2,000 victims and survivors coming to DVS yearly for life-changing resources. We hope you’ll join us!
Luncheon Details
Join us Thursday, May 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a fundraising luncheon at the Inn at Leola Village in support of the work of Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County (DVS), featuring keynote speaker and intimate partner violence survivor April Hernandez Castillo.
Featured Speaker – April Hernandez Castillo
Best known for her riveting performance as “Eva” in the hit movie, Freedom Writers, starring Hilary Swank, April Hernandez Castillo was living the Hollywood dream. She starred on tv shows such as Person of Interest, Law & Order: SVU, Dexter, and New Amsterdam to name a few. However, behind the glitz and glamor was a woman dealing secretly with a traumatic past.
April’s inspirational story of resilience, overcoming adversity, and choosing to move forward no matter what happens in life is a message that resonates with audiences across the globe. In her keynote entitled, Moving Forward, April intimately describes how she was able to take all her tragedies and turn them into triumphs by choosing to never give up. From growing up in the tough streets of the Bronx during the Crack Epidemic Era, to being in an abusive relationship as a teenager, to almost taking her own life, April truly understands what it feels like when the odds are up against you. In order to move forward in life we must first make a choice to do so.
“My life dramatically changed when I made two critical decisions during my abuse. I made a choice to leave and I made a choice to live.”
Understanding her platform as an actor and speaker has allowed April to grace an array of audiences all the way from Juvenile detention facilities to one of the most prestigious stages to date, TEDx.
Her message has reached thousands of students and conferences nationwide and internationally. April is also an author who is set to release her highly anticipated work, her memoir, Embracing Me.
About DVS
A program of CAP, Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County (DVS) has been the sole dedicated provider of services to survivors of domestic violence and their families in Lancaster County for nearly 50 years, supporting them in accessing community resources on their journey to healing and a life free from violence.
Thank You for Your Generosity
Proceeds from each ticket directly support victims and survivors of domestic violence in Lancaster County as they rebuild their lives and find thriving.