SARC Names CPA Dawn Rowles Volunteer of the Year
Harford County resident and business owner is recognized for more than 1,600 hours of service to the Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center, Inc. (SARC).
[Bel Air, MD] October 23, 2009 -Harford County-based CPA and owner of First Act Accounting Services, LLC Dawn Rowles was named SARC Volunteer of the Year at the non-profit's annual meeting held during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month on October 21, 2009 at the Maryland Golf and Country Club.
SARC Volunteer Coordinator Neala Lancellotti presented Rowles with the award, noting her more than 1,600 hours of service to the organization during the course of the last fiscal year alone. According to Lancellotti, "Volunteers are the heart of our organization and Dawn exemplifies a great volunteer. If I send an e-mail that I need help covering a shift or staffing an outreach event, Dawn is the first one to respond despite her busy schedule as a business owner and mom. And she does it all with compassion, empathy and with a smile on her face."
Since 2007, Rowles has volunteered her time in a number of capacities, including answering SARC's 24/7 helpline and spending several days per month on call for the organization's companion service. This program provides hospitalized victims with volunteers and staff who offer support including staying with sexual assault/domestic violence victims through the lengthy evidence-collection process necessary to press formal charges. Lancellotti says, "Being a hospital companion is a big commitment. To be prepared to advocate for victims at 1:00 a.m. and commit to staying with them for up to six hours takes a special person, and there have been times when Dawn has supported two victims in one night, going from one hospital to the next."
With a relatively small staff, SARC relies heavily on its volunteer pool to staff its 24-hour helpline and provide hospital companion services to victims. Lancellotti points out, "SARC couldn't do all the things we do and reach the community in all the ways we do without volunteers like Dawn." Rowles also supports the group by working community events designed to raise awareness of domestic and sexual abuse and by assisting with seasonal projects such as holiday dinners, Adopt-a-Family and Annual Giving mailings.
Rowles completed 36 hours of required training prior to beginning her volunteer service. Asked what prompted her to dedicate so much time to SARC, Rowles says, "I fortunately do not have personal experience with domestic violence or sexual assault. At a networking event, I sat next to SARC Executive Director Luisa Caiazzo-Nutter and realized they provide a wonderful service for those who need it. I believe strongly that we need to give back to the community in some way. Giving without expecting anything in return, particularly to people you don't even know, is very rewarding, and I believe a gift we have all been given to share."
Headquartered in Harford County and dedicated to ending domestic and sexual abuse, SARC offers a number of other services including legal advocacy and representation, safehouse services, clinical services, information and referrals and community outreach and education.
Additional Resources:
• First Act Accounting Services - www.firstactaccounting.com
• SARC - www.sarc-maryland.org
Related Links