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The Mission of Sanders County Coalition for Families is to provide a safe haven and supportive services to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Our Vision is to end violence against women and children by creating a safe community that promotes a culture of equality and respect in relationships.

Telling Amy's Story - Domestic Violence Documentary Trailer

May 21st, 2010 | 6:00 am Telling Amy’s Story: A Call to Action|Ffiled under News Newseum| By Elisabeth Grant (Washington, D.C.)

On November 8, 2001, Amy Homan McGee, Verizon Wireless employee and mother of two, was shot and killed by her husband Vincent McGee in their home in Pennsylvania. Vincent McGee was convicted of the murder and is now serving a life sentence in prison. This was not an isolated moment of violence, but rather the last event after years of abuse. While McGee’s story is shocking and sad, what is more disturbing is that her life, and death, are like so many other victims of domestic abuse.

Domestic violence lives in darkness. In shame, in isolation, and in silence. To shine a light on what happened to McGee, and to illuminate the issues of domestic violence across the country, Penn State Public Broadcasting, with funding from the Verizon Foundation, put together Telling Amy’s Story. The film celebrates the times family, friends, and law enforcement stepped up and reached out to McGee. But it also highlights the many missed opportunities to stop the domestic violence in her life.

Telling Amy’s Story reached an audience of public officials, advocates in the fight against domestic violence, and the media on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Before the screening of the movie numerous speakers took part to educate and open the dialogue on domestic violence.

Numerous higher-ups from Verizon were in attendance to show their support and commitment. McGee was a valued Verizon employee and her death, says Kathryn Brown, Verizon Senior Vice President of Public Policy Development and Corporate Responsibility, was “a death in the family.” Dan Mead, Chief Operating Officer, helped spearhead Verizon’s support of this film, which initially was a training program project to educate others on domestic violence. Mead also worked with Steve Garban, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Penn State, who spoke about Penn State Public Broadcasting’s role as “a national leader in public service media.”

Verizon has actually made domestic violence prevention one of its key corporate responsibility issues, with the Verizon Foundation awarding nearly $5 million in grants last year to support domestic violence prevention. According to its website, the company also sponsors “an annual national domestic violence prevention summit and, through the Verizon HopeLine program, provide[s] mobile devices and minutes to help victims get back on the road to independence and recovery.”

For more information regarding Verizon's Hopeline Program, visit this link to learn how the program works, how to donate, and get involved. To learn more about Amy and the film "Telling Amy's Story" visit the film's Facebook Page.