Sexual Assault Services Celebrates 23 Years of Service
Sterling Riethman, keynote speaker at Sexual Assault Services Annual Recognition Dinner
Sexual Assault Services (SAS) is proud to celebrate its 23rd anniversary. To recognize the important work of its volunteers and community supporters, SAS will host a dinner on Wednesday, April 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Battle Creek Country Club, located at 318 Country Club Drive in Battle Creek.
The event will feature keynote speaker Sterling Riethman, a former gymnast and collegiate diver who is a survivor of Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University physician and USA gymnastics national team doctor convicted of multiple cases of sexual assault. Riethman was one of the first survivors to publicly reveal her identity. Sterling and the “army of survivors” continue their efforts to advocate for justice and healing, and empower women across the nation. Sterling has been featured on CNN and in ESPN Magazine, and received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs. Sterling serves on the Governor's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, a multidisciplinary group within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“Sexual Assault Services is honored to have been able to serve Calhoun County for more than 20 years. And in the last four years, we have expanded our Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program to Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties, in addition to Calhoun,” says Dannielle Kostrab, manager for Sexual Assault Services. “However, we are still a long way from a community free of sexual violence. We must continue to provide survivor and trauma-informed services to those affected by these crimes and educate adults, children and our community about sexual assault and abuse. As an organization, we will continue to promote hope, healing and justice for all survivors.”
Tickets are $25 each and seats are limited. To purchase tickets, please visit bronsonfoundation.com/sasannualevent or call (269) 341-8100.
About Sexual Assault Services
Sexual Assault Services is committed to providing empathic, non-judgmental, comprehensive services, support and advocacy for survivors and others affected by sexual assault or sexual abuse; raising awareness of sexual assault; engaging others to join in working toward a community free of sexual violence. SAS serves southwest Michigan and is a department of Bronson Battle Creek Hospital funded by grants and private donations through the Bronson Health Foundation.
