Celebrating
COVE A special publication of the Ludington Daily News
New facility created to empower victims
By MARIE WAITE BY MARIE WAITEDIRECTOR COVE EXECUTIVE COVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
C
OVE has been rebuilding lives OVE been rebuilding and has empowering familieslives for and empowering families for 36 years in Mason, Lake and 36 years in Mason, Lake and Oceana counties. Oceana counties. Five years ago, a dream team Five yearsof ago a dream comprised COVE staff,team board comprised of COVE staff, board members and volunteers asmembers and volunteers as-of the sembled to decide the fate sembled to decide the fate of the shelter. The continued inadequashelter. inadequacies andThe thecontinued maintenance issues cies and the maintenance issues of the current facility made the of the current made the feasibility of afacility complete remodel feasibility of a complete remodel of the current shelter a financial of the current shelter financial impossibility. This leda to the idea impossibility. This lednew to the idea to build a completely shelter to build a completely new that would house both theshelter clients that house both the clients and would the COVE administrative and and the COVE and advocacy staffadministrative on the same premadvocacy staff on theto same ises. Transportation andpremfrom ises. Transportation to andand from counseling appointments counseling appointments andan group activities always being group activities always being an
issue, a space issue, a space that would that would house everyone house in one everyone location in one location and bring the and bring the to programming programming the clients wasto the key.clients was key. A facility in A facility in of Washington state was the first Washington state was not the afirst of its kind in the nation, group its kindhome in thebut nation, not a group model an individual livmodel home an individual living unit stylebut facility. This design ing style facility. ThisAsdesign wasunit instantly appealing. we opwas appealing. Asmodel we operateinstantly on an empowerment erate onCOVE, an empowerment model here at what better way to here at COVE, what better way terto empower the victims of these empower thesefor terrible acts the thanvictims to giveof them, rible actstime, then atoshelter give them, the first fromfor their the firstsituations time, a shelter from their violent but also the opviolent situations but also the opportunity to still maintain some portunity to still some independence or,maintain quite possibly independence or, quite possibly for the first time, have indepenfor the first time, have independence. dence.
Our new facility will have six Our apartments new facility where will have six small they small apartments where they by can take care of their families can take family care ofmeals their families cooking togetherby cooking together and alsofamily havingmeals a place to go and and alsoand having a place to go and quietly privately begin the quietly privately begin the processand of healing. process of healing. We knew this was the model Wewe knew this was the model that needed. We knew that we that needed. knew that we werewe about to doWe something unwere about toelse something unlike like anybody in the nation anybody in the to nation and and wereelse prepared do whatever were prepared do awhatever we we had to maketothis reality for had to make thiswe a reality forThey the the clients that serviced. clients that we serviced. They dedeserved this... served this... So, after two years, the decision So,made after to two years, the shelter decision was build a new was made to build a new shelter based on this model. We embased model. We em-cambarkedon onthis a three-year-long barked a three-year-long campaign toon raise the funds to break paign to Finally raise the to break ground. in funds the spring of ground. the spring of 2014 weFinally did justinthat. We broke 2014 weand did throughout just that. We2014 broke ground our ground throughout our amazingand contractors led2014 by Heiramazing contractors led by Heir-
loom Construction, Josh Wickham loom JoshbyWickham and anConstruction, amazing design Kendra and an amazing design by Kendra Thompson of Kendra Thompson Thompson of Kendra Architects, PC we haveThompson seen an Architects, PC we have seen an amazing transformation. amazing transformation. The dream is now a reality and The dream is now reality and our new facility withaits offices for our new facility with its offices COVE staff, a community room for COVE staff, a community room for COVE programming and comfor COVE programming and community partnership programing, munity partnership the donation station,programing, the Sexual the donation the Sexual Assault Nursestation, Examiners (SANE) Assault unit andNurse its sixExaminers individual (SANE) livunit and its ing units willsix beindividual celebratedlivin a ing units will beon celebrated a grand opening Tuesday, in Feb. grand opening on Tuesday, Feb. 17. 17. Our national media has been Our national media has been buzzing with heart-breaking buzzing heart-breaking stories ofwith domestic violence and stories of domestic and sexual assault. Now violence more than sexual assault. Now more thanorever, other public and private ever other public and private organizations are seeing the need ganizations the need in our nationare to seeing raise awareness in our nationfunding to raisefor awareness and provide organiand provide funding for organi-
zations just like ours. It is unzations just like ours. It is unfortunate that these instances fortunate thatfor these instances have to occur a nation to take have toThis occur a nation to take notice. is for great news for our notice.and This great our cause forisus, thenews workfor starts causehere and in forour us own the work starts right backyard. right here our ownto backyard. There areinno limits what we There are to noaccomplish. limits to what will be able Wewe will be able to accomplish. We have a staff with hearts fully inhave a in staff hearts fully in-a vested ourwith mission. We have vestedthat in our mission. Wededicathave a board is continually board that is continually dedied to our cause and because of catedwe towill ourensure cause and because that our future as that will our future as aofbeacon of ensure hope for the victims a beacon of hope for and the victims of domestic violence sexual of domestic violence and sexual assault. assault. We have built a facility unlike Weother haveinbuilt a facility any Michigan andunlike arguany other Michigan and arguably in thein nation. Other shelters ablysee in the Other we shelters will thenation. vast support rewill seefrom the vast support we re-to ceived our communities ceivedthis from our communities to make a reality for our clients make thisfamilies a realityand for they our clients and their will and their families and they will follow in our footsteps. follow in our footsteps.
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Ludington daily newS | COVE
| MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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Congratulations!
COVE
Proud to Partner with You on Your Building Project
Kendra C. Thompson Architects, P.C. Let’s Plan. Design. Construct. Together. kendra c.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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Grand opening to feature tours, Miss America
A
Spreading the message that ‘Love Shouldn’t Hurt: Protecting Women Against Domestic Violence’
public grand opening with a ribboncutting and tours of COVE’s new facility will take place from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 906 E. Ludington Ave. The community is invited to attend. Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev will be at the event from 5-6 p.m. She will help Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters spread the word about domestic violence awareness, her platform. At a fundraising dinner at Lincoln Hills Golf Club that evening, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Kazantsev, a vocalist, will perform her talent, the song “Happy,” for the sold-out dinner crowd. The hope is that event and the impending completion of the building will help push COVE to its fundraising goal, with another $150,000 needed to fund the final portion of the project, a $2.7 million effort. “We have a lot of confidence,” Kosla said of meeting the goal. This final push will help fully fund the building, which means no mortgage.
The grand opening is from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 906 E. Ludington Ave. A ribbon cutting is at 3 p.m., tours are from 3 to 6, and Miss America will be at the facility to meet the public from 5 to 6 p.m. Parking is at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital’s southwestern lot, with bus transportation across the street. “This is a big deal, a special deal,” Carrie Kosla, COVE’s fundraising/community outreach coordinator, said of having Miss America here for the opening. Kazantsev’s platform is officially “Love Shouldn’t Hurt: Protecting Women Against Domestic Violence,” which stems from her own experiences as a victim. She seeks to give more exposure to the issue and works with Safe Horizon, the country’s leading domestic violence organization. The 22-year-old graduate of Hofstra University Honors College plans to attend law school and pursue work in women’s issues and international diplomacy, after she takes some time off following her
COVE
Matt EickElbErg, OwnEr 5615 S. Stiles Rd., Ludington Home 231-843-9277 cell 231-690-9377
Miss America reign. Her parents are Russian immigrants and she speaks fluent English, Russian and Spanish. Kazantsev has been working with organizations that support women as she hopes to set an example “for other victims of not only being able to recover from an abusive relationship, but to move on and reach genuine happiness and success.” She seeks to empower women to know that “regardless of what has happened in the past, you have the power to control the outcome of your future.” In addition to her public appearance time, Miss America will attend a private breakfast event with COVE clients at Cartier Mansion, which has donated its location for the event. “We can’t have them at public grand opening for privacy and safety purposes, so we’re going to give them some time with her,” said Kosla. Kazantsev will be in Ludington Feb. 1618, her first time visiting Michigan.
on a beautiful new facility. Our heartfelt thanks for including us in this project. NEW CONSTRUCTION LOG HOMES DECK • GARAGES POLE BARNS • SIDING KITCHENS REMODELING GARAGE DOORS & OPENERS, ETC.
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Ludington daily newS | COVE
| MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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CCOVEongratulations
and Area Residents on the New Living Center!
Proud to be a part of completing such a worthwhile facility!
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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110-year-old home ready for some TLC By MARIE WAITE COVE Executive Director Throughout its history, our shelter has been a succession of worn, singlefamily homes. The first two houses rented to serve as shelters were located in Hart. In 1987, COVE purchased a house in Ludington. At present, the continued inefficiencies of this 110-year-old home have become an urgent and serious financial concern. Precious funds and volunteer hours are constantly diverted toward maintenance and repair of
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the aging shelter. Despite the constant challenges of keeping the age-worn shelter running smoothly and serving clients from a cramped office, COVE is highly effective in helping victims of abuse and violence at their time of greatest need. Please take a moment to look at the picture of our current Harrison Street shelter. This is a beautiful home and we hope that someone in the future will have the funds to restore it to its original grandeur. It will go on the market after the shelter’s clients move out in March.
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The facility has a covered sidewalk for clients to get out of the snow and rain while walking back and forth from their private living space to the COVE offices.
Constru
Architect Kendra Thompson explains the next phase of the build during a w
Some of the clients’ rooms have the ability to be combined to accommodate several children.
Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters Executive Director Marie Waite spends a moment at the new COVE facility, which features offices, individual client living units and programming space. It’s across the street from the temporary offices COVE had been using.
Some of the kitchens will be barrier free in case a client has a disability.
JEFF KIESSEL
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ynews.com
uction The new offices will be open for tours Tuesday.
walk-through with the COVE Board of Directors, including Bob Shrauger, left.
Painters work to put the finishing touches on the walls in the new COVE offices.
Contractors work to install the new office furniture.
and PATTI KLEVORN | Daily News photos
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Ludington daily newS | COVE
| MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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Congratulations
COVE
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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The COVE Board of Directors poses with construction manager Josh Wickham and architect Kendra Thompson during a September tour of the facility, partway through the build.
Donna Yager
COVE Board of Directors Donna Yager, Board President Susie Bradford Tripp, VP David Gibbs, Treasurer Shelby Hughes, Secretary Norma Gilbert Matt Jastrzembski Robert Shrauger Sylvia Shrauger Tracy Moody Cathy Grabowski Suzie Anthony Jane Thompson Debra Goodwin Chris Dunn Lynne Cavazos
Daily News file photo
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Ludington daily newS | COVE
| MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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Thank you for choosing Heirloom to partner with COVE. Teaming our construction leadership with your vision has brought a first of its kind facility to our community.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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Many ways to give Brick for pathway, donor wall options available
The community already has raised — together with grants — $2.55 of the $2.7 million project. Now, $150,000 remains toward the facility fundraising effort. There are many ways to give: • Buy a brick to be placed in the walkway at the east entrance of the building, with size and price ranging from $150, $500 and $1,000. • There is also a new donor wall, which will be unveiled Tuesday during the grand opening. Anyone wishing to give any amount can stop by the new shelter, 906 E. Ludington Ave., or call (231) 8432541.
COVE and thanks for enriching our community with this new facility. We were happy to assist in the completion of this project.
Carrie Kosla, COVE outreach and fundraising coordinator, explains the funding needed to finish paying for COVE’s new facility. Generous donors and grant money have come close to paying off the project, with the final fundraising push on now.
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Ludington daily newS | COVE
| MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015
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Congratulations Cove
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