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2005
National Crime Victims' Rights Week The honorees received special recognition during the awards ceremony hosted April 8, 2005, by the Office for Victims of Crime to honor victim advocates, organizations, and programs in the field of victim services.
To view more details, click on a photo for an enlarged view Volunteer for Victims Award
Birdie Frink From victim to victim advocate, Birdie Frink volunteers her time and devotes her energy and resources to helping victims of violent crime in Brunswick County, North Carolina. In 1994, her youngest daughter, Amy Caroline, was carjacked, tortured, sexually assaulted, and murdered. Birdie knows the devastation, anger, desperation, frustration, and obstacles victims face. In spite of her own personal tragedy, Birdie has rallied to help other victims of violent crime. Birdie founded Justice for Citizens, formerly Citizens Against Crime, an organization focused on educating the community, advocating for crime victims' rights, and supporting other victims of violent crime. Through her organization, Birdie provides immediate and ongoing emotional support by way of phone calls, personal visits, and attendance at the funerals of homicide victims. She also provides information and referrals to necessary services; accompanies victims through legal proceedings; informs victims of pending legislation that may affect their situations; queries agencies to find out if victims will receive adequate treatment; and encourages victims to grow and rebuild their lives. Birdie is a member of the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network and has been a board member for 8 years. She is a member of the North Carolina Interagency Council and serves on the Brunswick County Child Fatality Task Force and the Criminal Justice Partnership Program in Brunswick County. A determined voice for victims' rights, Birdie demonstrates not only compassion for victims of crimes, but also enduring dedication to ensuring fairness and justice remain important topics throughout every level of government. Birdie was nominated by the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network.
Stanley and Phyllis Rosenbluth Stanley and Phyllis Rosenbluth started their work on behalf of victims in 1993, after their son Richard and daughter-in-law Becky were murdered. The Rosenbluths' personal victim experience caused them to take action in 1994 by helping to create a nonprofit organization, Virginians United Against Crime (VUAC), dedicated to the needs, concerns, and rights of victims. They immediately started their work with the creation of a hotline for victims in their home. As a 24 hour, 7 day a week operation, their time invested with the hotline cannot be measured, only valued. Through VUAC, they have been able to speak out on behalf of victims. VUAC has played a significant role in helping craft legislation to improve the plight of victims in Virginia . VUAC has assisted in getting legislation passed in Virginia by getting victims involved in the process through letter writing campaigns and testifying before the state legislature. For example, VUAC's effort has been credited for helping get the following state legislation passed: parole abolition; truth in sentencing; a victims' rights constitutional amendment in Virginia; right to make oral impact statements; right to speak with a prosecutor prior to entering a plea agreement; right to be notified regarding victims' rights; right of siblings to be included in the definition of victim; increased financial funeral allowance; and many other legislative efforts. Their tireless efforts have helped give victim advocates increased rights and services to support victims of violent crime. Together they have logged more than 20,000 volunteer hours on behalf of victims of violent crime. They are passionate voices for victims who believe that silence isolates, while words and actions unite. Stanley and Phyllis Rosenbluth were nominated by Carroll Ellis, and their nomination was supported by Senator George Allen and former Attorney General of Virginia, Jerry Kilgore.
Donna Ferres In 1979, working nights at a convenience store in Maryland to put herself through college, Donna Ferres was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, brutally beaten, stabbed multiple times and left for dead. She fought her way through the woods seeking help and her life was saved. Donna's perpetrator was caught after he confessed to a friend, "I think I killed a girl last night." The District Attorney was set to plea bargain the case, eliminating the sexual assault and kidnapping charges. Donna was informed and while still emotionally and physically injured, traveled alone to his office to "put a face on the victim" and demand that no charges be dropped so that the maximum sentence could be imposed. Her attacker was sentenced to two life terms plus 60 years. Unfortunately, he came up for parole every five years. Donna mobilized letter writing campaigns to the Maryland Parole Board on behalf of herself and other crime victims to ensure that her attacker would remain incarcerated. In 1998, Donna published Undying Will: A True Story of How One Woman Survived a Brutal Rape and Near Murder to Bring her Attacker to Justice. That same year, she became involved in the Lee County Rape Crisis Center in Florida as a volunteer victim advocate. Donna has spent countless hours advocating for the rights of victims that she assists. Although the work takes a toll on Donna because of her past, she never hesitates to give of herself fully. Donna has received the Survivor Activist Award from the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence and has earned the Florida Attorney General's Designated Victim Advocate Certificate. In addition, she educates victims about sexual assault. Donna was nominated by Dr. Roxann Sangiacomo. |
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