Liberal Advocate Honored with Statewide Award

Coalition awards its Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award

For Immediate Release:  Monday, February 22, 2016

KCSDV Media Contact:  joyceg@kcsdv.org; o: 785-232-9784, c: 785-231-8933

Topeka, KS, 2/22/2016 – Frenanda “Sadie” Madden with LARC DVS, Inc. (formerly known as the Liberal Area Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Services, Inc.), received the Juliene Maska Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award from the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV).  The award was presented during KCSDV’s 13^th Annual Safe Homes, Safe Streets event at the Sunflower Safety Luncheon and Awards Ceremony in Topeka.

Since 1995, KCSDV has been recognizing outstanding advocates and allies who are working to enhance victim safety, increase perpetrator accountability, and prevent and eliminate sexual and domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in Kansas.

For over 15 years, Madden’s passion for helping others has been apparent in her daily work with survivors of sexual and domestic violence.  Madden has provided exemplary services on behalf of survivors, and according to LARC DVS, survivors are drawn to Madden’s style of advocacy.  “Sadie puts the survivors she serves first and empowers others to their fullest potential,” said Lori Hensley, LARC DVS executive director.

In addition to her outstanding advocacy, Madden has also helped LARC DVS grow.  Several years ago, when LARC DVS began serving two additional counties in southwest Kansas, Madden worked diligently to establish connections – meeting with community partners; providing community education; and speaking with service groups, schools, law enforcement, court services, churches, and many others about LARC DVS and the services available for survivors.  Over time, the services in these two additional counties grew so much that more time was needed to provide advocacy services to survivors in these counties.

Now a supervisor at LARC DVS, Madden’s commitment to survivors and the agency is as strong as ever.  “Sadie is a mentor to the other advocates and leads by example, making sure all facets of the agency run smoothly,” said Hensley.  “She is truly deserving of this award.”

“KCSDV is honored to recognize Sadie with this distinguished award,” said Joyce Grover, KCSDV executive director.  “Sadie’s work on behalf of survivors is transformative and life-saving in so many ways,” said Grover.

Other award winners at this year’s event included the Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc. and Pittsburg State University’s Students for Violence Prevention, and Dung and Paul Kimble of Wichita, for the Project of the Year Awards; and Officers Lori Kimrey and Darrin Williams of the Wichita Police Department West Patrol Station, and Twila Wollenberg, MDCV Elementary School Principal, for Community Ally of the Year Awards.

Photos available upon request.