Domestic Violence Awareness Kickball Tournament Raises over $2,500 for Victims

The Domestic Violence Awareness Kickball Tournament raised over $2,500 for victims of domestic violence in northeast Montana, according to organizers Lacie Brown, Jenny McCabe and Shelly Ramsey. The event was organized to help raise funds for the Love Shouldn't Hurt organization which supports victims' services for those affected by domestic violence in Valley, Phillips, Sheridan and Daniels counties.

Proceeds raised help with crisis intervention situations faced by the victim services department of the Glasgow Police Department, which actually serves the entirety of the four counties listed above. Most of the funds are used to provide those affected by domestic violence with lodging, transportation, food, toiletries and depending on circumstances even clothing to allow them to leave a dangerous situation quickly and effectively. All of the money raised goes to help individuals in one of the above northeast Montana counties.

According to Shelly Ramsey with the Glasgow Police Department's Victim Services department, last year $1600 was raised for the organizatio,n and about the time of the kickball tournament they had just enough for about one more intervention, which she says indicates both the need for a fund of this nature and the fact that it is being used for its intended purpose. According to the groups fundraising letter to businesses, "In 2017, a group of ladies put together 'Swap and Shop', a community fundraiser, donating all of the proceeds towards the Glasgow Police Department's Victim Services program."

This year the group decided to do a kickball tournament to both raise money and awareness of domestic violence. With the rate of use last year, Ramsey pointed out that the money is definitely a need for the community and she highlighted, "So, the money is being raised and used for its intended purpose, and it is being used in our area."

The tournament had ten participating teams with over one hundred players. That, coupled with corporate donations, concessions and a silent auction raised this year's pool of money. The winning team in the tournament received a $50 Eugene's Pizza gift card (donated by a private citizen), a traveling trophy and a custom T-shirt.

In the future, Love Shouldn't Hurt is looking forward to hosting a dodgeball tournament that Ramsey thinks will shine more light on the issue of domestic violence rather than just being a fundraiser for the program. That tournament is likely going to happen this spring.

The other big change is that the organization hopes to file for official non-profit status. That will make donations tax-deductible and give the organization a charter on which to operate and fundraise in the future.