Turning Points Network’s ‘Steppin’ Up to End Violence’ fundraiser returns after a year of uncertainty

By Patrick Adrian
Staff Writer
CLAREMONT — Turning Points Network is “stepping up” its fundraising activity this weekend after a challenging fiscal year in 2020 amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

Turning Points Network, a nonprofit domestic violence prevention and victim support group in Sullivan County, is hosting its annual signature fundraiser event, “Steppin’ Up to End Violence,” this week, including a virtual event on Saturday, May 15.

This year’s Steppin’ Up, now in its 15th year, departs from the event’s traditional 5K fun run, in which participating individuals or teams raised donations through pledges or sponsorship.

This year, instead of a community run, Turning Points Network is encouraging Steppin’ Up participants to choose any activity they enjoy.

“Some [participants] are walking with friends or their COVID pod, some are knitting, some are doing yoga or meditation,” said Kerry Hague, Turning Points Network education coordinator, in a media release. “We’re inviting people to do anything they enjoy as their Steppin’ Up activity.”

Participants, many of whom are already doing their selected activity, will be able to share photos or videos, at Saturday’s virtual event, which will be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing.

National Field Representatives, of Claremont, will serve as the honorary chair of this year’s Steppin’ Up.

Last year was particularly hard financially on Turning Points Network, which had to cancel Steppin’ Up in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Turning Points Network had to temporarily close Changes Boutique & Thrift Store in Claremont just after a major renovation because of the statewide shutdown.

Between the cancellation of Steppin’ Up and the closure of Changes Boutique & Thrift Store, Turning Points Network lost approximately $120,000 in unrestricted revenue.

The shortfall last year was a significant amount, according to Deborah Mozden, executive director of Turning Points Network. The organization, with an annual operating budget of $950,000, raises about 25% of its total funding, approximately $250,000 per year. Turning Points Network derives this funding portion from a variety of grants, thrift store revenue and charitable donations.

Additionally, Turning Points Network must confine its fundraising initiatives to Sullivan County, which is Turning Points Network’s designated serving area, Mozden explained.

“So our Steppin’ Up fundraiser is a critical part of our budget,” Mozden said.

In recent years Steppin’ Up has raised between $75,000 to $100,000 annually, Mozden said. Though the event was cancelled last year, Turning Points Network still received $45,000 in community donations.

For this year’s Steppin’ Up Turning Points Network has set a target goal to raise $75,000. Turning Points Network has so far received $50,000 in donations and sponsorship pledges, Mozden said.

The pandemic has also challenged Turning Points Network to deliver services during record levels of strains on families. Though new cases of domestic or sexual abuse were slow to report during the initial months of the pandemic, Mozden said the past six months have been “busier than we have ever been.”

Organizations are also bracing for the coming weeks and months as the pandemic eases and people begin to get out of their homes more regularly. These concerns include potentially more reports from victims of abuse and the risks of more serious levels of assault, which have been higher in recent months.

“We are still learning what the short and long term effects on [abuse] survivors will be,” Mozden said.

While Turning Points Network has kept its services operating throughout, closures of public institutions and other key service partners created other strains. Survivors of sexual assault lacked sufficient access to medical exams or the courts. Trials were put on hold or in wait. Children in insecure homes lacked their once safe outlets in schools or the ability to see friends.

Turning Points Network, despite the revenue shortfall, spent considerably to assist people, such as placing people with unsafe living places in hotels.

“While it was a hard year we never stopped providing our services,” Mozden said. “We pivoted and adapted to meet every challenge that was put in front of us.”

People who wish to participate in Steppin’ Up, donate or sponsor a participant or join the virtual event, may learn more on the event webpage at turningpointsnetwork.org/steppin-up. Following the event viewers may still visit turningpointsnetwork.org to donate or find a link to the event video, which will be available on YouTube.

[email protected]