Mick Foley

Strickland and Foley were presented with RAINN’s 2010 Hope Awards at the Washington, DC gala, in honor of their work to educate the public about sexual assault prevention and recovery and for their volunteer work with RAINN. Also winning a Hope Award was Shonda Rhimes, the creator of ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Chairing the event were RAINN board members Cybele Daley, Katherine Miller and Tracy Sefl.

Present to lend their support to RAINN’s work were Reps. Ted Poe (R-TX) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Congressional leaders in the fight against sexual violence. Reps. Poe and Maloney are the lead sponsors of the SAFER Act, which will help eliminate the backlog of untested DNA evidence from thousands of unsolved rape cases. Congress is expected to take up the SAFER Act next year.

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Politico
"The great thing about getting connected with RAINN is that I learned about hope and strength and learned about what it is to truly be a champion for yourself again, and that was one of the things I really wanted to portray." —Actress KaDee Strickland, winner of a 2010 Hope Award for her performance on Private Practice and her volunteer work for RAINN.

"Those first few sessions were more nerve-racking than anything I've done in the ring.” —Pro-wrestler and author Mick Foley, winner of a 2010 Hope Award for his work volunteering for the Online Hotline
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Talking Points Memo
"You can't get justice without DNA, it's just the way the world works now. Everyone expects to see DNA." —Julie Weil, member of RAINN’s speakers bureau and advocate for the SAFER Act, which will help eliminate the backlog of untested DNA evidence from thousands of unsolved rape cases.
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The Examiner
“Millions of people have learned about the National Sexual Assault Hotlines thanks to their help.” —RAINN founder Scott Berkowitz, praising the work of Private Practice creator Shonda Rhimes and actress KaDee Strickland.
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Newsweek.com
“It could lead to a person shutting down and becoming noncommunicative, it could result in a person becoming emotionally upset, it could trigger flashbacks…” — Jennifer Marsh, director of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, said of the new TSA screenings that concern many survivors of sexual assault.

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NBC and its longtime hit show Law & Order: SVU partnered with New York University’s Department of Media, Culture and Communications and AOL TV to host a panel discussion prior to airing a new episode about rape on campus. Jennifer Wilson Marsh, RAINN’s hotline and affiliate services director, joined Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, actor Ice-T, and Katie Hnida from the Joyful Heart Foundation to discuss the issue at AOL's offices in New York City.

The Hope Award is not the only award Mick Foley won recently: At his DC rally with Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart presented Foley with his Award for Reasonableness for his work on behalf of RAINN. Foley and Stewart also talked about RAINN this month on the Daily Show.

“I cannot think of a better way to spend a few hours a week than helping someone who needs RAINN’s services,” Foley told Stewart. He also also urged others, including more men, to get involved: “There is a spot on our team for you,” he said.

Learn more about Foley's involvement with RAINN

Today is Cyber Monday, and 300 top retailers — including Target, Macy’s, and Uncommon Goods — will donate part of your purchase to RAINN. It won't cost you a cent, and all you have to do is click on your favorite store at RAINN's Online Shopping Mall.

It's that simple — visit our mall, click on your favorite store and buy whatever you want. You'll still get all the sale prices, but part of your purchase will automatically be donated to RAINN. And if you need more holiday gifts later? Just save this link (shop.rainn.org) and come back any time to have your purchase benefit RAINN.

This holiday season and beyond, start your shopping at shop.rainn.org.

“I started volunteering as a way to give back to the community that helped me so much after my own assault. When I personally contacted the Online Hotline, they helped by connecting me to the resources that proved invaluable in my healing process. Being on the other side, as a volunteer, has been a great experience. Every session is different, but it’s great to know that I’m making a difference in someone’s life — helping them connect with resources that they need, or just being an ear to listen in a non-judgmental way. I plan to keep fighting to end sexual violence by volunteering for the Online Hotline and sponsoring initiatives in my community to raise awareness of its prevalence and effects on survivors.”

Learn more about volunteering for RAINN

RAINN Speakers Bureau member John Mark Clubb is having a busy fall: he has been an audience member on The Oprah Show’s episode featuring male survivors of sexual abuse; was interviewed by his local paper; and is promoting his new memoir, Boys Cry Too. Clubb, now a commercial airline pilot after 22 years in the military (first as a Marine, then as a Navy pilot), says his message to other abuse victims is: “Sexual abuse does not have to be a life sentence."

Learn more about joining RAINN's Speakers Bureau

Did you know that RAINN spends 92¢ out of every dollar directly on services to help victims and prevent rape? It’s that efficiency, and documented effectiveness, that led Worth magazine to rate RAINN as one of “America’s 100 Best Charities.”

This year, with the number of people using the National Sexual Assault Hotline up by 16%, RAINN needs your help more than ever. Please consider helping with a tax-deductible, year-end donation. You can donate online 24/7, or mail your contribution to RAINN. Donations made online, or postmarked, by 11:59 pm on December 31 are deductible from your 2010 taxes to the extent allowed by law.

Remember, the greater your gift to RAINN, the larger your tax savings will be. What better time to invest in RAINN than now?