ARE YOU IN NEED OF HELP LEAVING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION? CONTACT COVE NOW BY CALLING THEIR 24 HOUR EMERGENCY CRISIS LINE AT 1-800-950-5808

Pentwater's Charles Mears State Park hosts a 5K and 10K beach walk/run to benefit COVE on Saturday, September 10th. The course covers paved, sand, and beach surfaces. Check-In and Registration generally starts at 7:30am. 5k/10k Run starts at 8:30 am. 5k Walk starts at 8:40 am. .

Entry Fees are as follows:

Before September 8th, 2016:
$25.00 5k Walk
$25.00 5k Run
$25.00 10k Run

After September 8th, 2016:
$30.00 5k Walk
$30.00 5k Run
$30.00 10k Run

Race T-shirt included with registration for the first 150 registered participants.

Online Registration closes at 9:00 pm on September 8th, 2016 and only checks received in the mail dated prior to the 11th will be accepted at the discounted rate. After that, registration will only be available the day of the race at the $30.00 rate.

There are awards and prizes in many divisions and all participants will receive a finishers medal.

To register, visit www.goracego.com If you have questions, contact Lynne Cavazos at (231) 869-5939 or lcavazos5939@charter.net.

Looking for more race opportunities? Check out story on race events in the area!

TED Talks

COVE has announced their schedule of TED Talks to be held in Mason, Lake, and Oceana Counties throughout the year.

These TED Talks serve to spread ideas and messages about domestic violence and sexual assault through short, powerful talks given by local community members reenacting original TED scripts. TED Talks are free to attend and open to the public.

The schedule for upcoming TED Talks is as follows:

Mason County at the Ludington branch of the Mason County District Library- 217 E. Ludington Avenue

Thursday, August 25th, 6pm

Sunday, August 28th, 6pm

Thursday, October 27th, 6pm

Lake County at St. Ann's Church, 1001 Michigan Ave. in Baldwin

Wednesday, September 21st, 6pm

Wednesday, October 19th, 6pm

Oceana County at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd. in New Era

Wednesday, September 14th, 6pm

Wednesday, October 12th, 6pm

About COVE (Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters)

Since its inception in 1979, COVE has been dedicated to ending violence in our communities. Originally known as Region Four Community Services, it was re-named Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters (COVE) in 2004.

Through community donations and grants, COVE has moved into a new 10,500 square foot building on Ludington Avenue. This state-of-the-art facility cost $2.7 million and includes six residential units, three-stall garage, kitchen and community room, offices, children's play room and computer resource center. There are also two barrier-free units. They celebrated their grand opening on February 17, 2015 with a visit from Kira Kazantsev, the current Miss America, whose platform is domestic violence awareness. This is the first domestic violence/sexual assault center in Michigan to have independent living spaces for its clients. COVE is staffed 24 hours a days, 7 days a week and offers a SANE Suite (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) that provides a secure, private area for anyone who has experienced sexual assault and/or rape.

To donate to the Capital Campaign for COVE or for more information, call (231) 843-2541 or visit their website at callcove.com. The Crisis Line number is (800) 950-5808.

COVE's first shelter was a tiny three-bedroom home in Hart, eventually moving to a more spacious four-bedroom house. Throughout the years, funding expanded to include United Way, Michigan Dept. of Health, DVPTB, FEMA, and Victims of Crime Act, plus private donations. In 1985, United Way dollars allowed COVE. to open a part-time outreach office in Ludington. Due to tremendous support from Mason County energies and dollars, the shelter facility was moved to Ludington around 1988.

During the past year, COVE's old 14-bed facility were at capacity or over. The new units feature four beds per unit along with private bathrooms, kitchen and living/dining area. These numbers prove how vital the mission is here in Mason County. State, federal, and community grants pay for 90% of their salaries and expenses, with the remaining 10% coming from individual and corporate donations.

The mission of COVE is to provide protection and advocacy to victims of Domestic/Sexual Violence and/or Homelessness and to educate the community about the root causes of violence. Help is always needed--from donating supplies to volunteering time. You can even "Adopt the Shelter" for a day, week, or month. For more information on how you can become involved, call (231) 843-2541. If you need assistance, call the Crisis Line at (800) 950-5808.

Recurring COVE Events

February - Craft Beer & Music Fest in Pentwater
April - Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month
May - Wine, Beer, & Bites at P.M. Steamers in Ludington
June- Annual Golf Scramble at Golden Sands Golf Course in Mears
September 10th, 2016 - Beach 5K Walk & Run at Charles Mears State Park in Pentwater
October 2nd, 2016 - COVE United Music Fest
October 5th, 2016 - Peach, Love & Stop Domestic Violence Breakast, 8am at the COVE Offices
October 26th, 2016 - Stop Domestic Violence Walk in downtown Ludington
November 17th, 2016 - Holiday Party, 6-9pm at Lincoln Hills Golf Club
December 11th, 2016 - Afternoon Tea at The Lites Cottages Clubhouse in Pentwater

COVE United- Men Dedicated to Stopping Violence Through Education and Engagement

As a support organization to COVE, COVE United is working to help stop domestic violence before it starts, and those involved believe that this is an issue that men, specifically, must help address. The goals of COVE United are to help COVE with fundraising and public awareness events, to encourage membership in the organization and participation at COVE United events, and to spread the message to younger men and boys that real men do not condone or commit domestic violence.

For more information on COVE United, contact the organization's chairman, Chris Dunn at (630) 750-8893.

Information on other emergency shelters can be found by visiting www.michbiz.com

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