LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Vera House upon the occasion of cele-
brating its 18th Annual White Ribbon Campaign

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those institutions in our community that help protect citi-
zens and educate the public on issues of great importance within socie-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Primary among such institutions are those who, year after
year, diligently seek to empower those in need, promote a culture of
equality and respect, and assist individuals and families in crisis; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commend Vera House upon the occasion of celebrating its 18th Annual
White Ribbon Campaign; a male-lead campaign that brings awareness to
sexual and domestic violence against women and educates the community on
prevention and intervention; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, Vera House was formed in Syracuse by Sister Mary
Vera who, with a group of concerned citizens, realized there was a dire
need in the community to provide women who were in crisis with emergency
services and shelter, relevant to their time and type of need; and
WHEREAS, What began in 1977, with modest services for women, has
greatly expanded; the mission of Vera House is: "... to end all domestic
and sexual violence, to assist families in crisis, to support those
affected by domestic and sexual violence to live safe, self-sufficient
lives, to empower women and children, and to promote a culture of equal-
ity and respect in relationships"; and
WHEREAS, Today, the many services offered by Vera House include:
24-hour crisis and support lines; emergency shelter services; outreach
and advocacy services; domestic violence education prevention program-
ming; youth counseling services; the Syracuse Area Domestic Violence
Coalition; and a domestic violence education program for male perpetra-
tors of violence; and
WHEREAS, On January 1, 2005, Vera House merged with another well-known
Syracuse agency, the Rape Crisis Center; these two agencies, which had
similar missions, combined their programs and staff, in order to provide
the same quality services "together for hope and healing"; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the 18th consecutive year that Vera House has
conducted its White Ribbon Campaign; and
WHEREAS, The White Ribbon Campaign traces its roots to Canada where,
on December 6, 1989, a gunman roamed the corridors of Montreal's Ecole
Polytechnique and killed 14 women; almost immediately thereafter the
incident became a galvanizing moment in which mourning turned into
outrage about all violence against women; and
WHEREAS, The White Ribbon Campaign began in Canada on December 6,
1990, the first anniversary of the Montreal Massacre; and
WHEREAS, The goals of the White Ribbon Campaign are to get men
involved in working to end men's violence against women, to raise aware-
ness of this problem within the community, to raise funds for programs
and services, and to support organizations that deal with sexual and
domestic violence against women; and
WHEREAS, Vera House brought the White Ribbon Campaign from Canada to
Syracuse, and conducted its first campaign in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the course of the 10-day campaign, thousands of
Central New Yorkers will wear a white ribbon or a white wristband to
raise awareness about domestic and sexual violence and to demonstrate
that they do not condone, support, or commit violence; and

WHEREAS, By wearing a white ribbon during the campaign, men acknowl-
edge the important role they, themselves, play in the efforts to end
violence against women; by setting positive examples, challenging
certain behaviors, and supporting programs and services; now therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize the numerous staff members and volunteers of Vera House, as
they undertake the 2012 White Ribbon Campaign, and to give full endorse-
ment to Vera House's dedicated effort to eliminate all physical, sexual
and emotional abuse; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Randi Bregman, Executive Director, Vera House.