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YWCA Dayton to host 17th annual Voices Against Violence

By Zack Frink


YWCA Dayton is hosting its 17th annual Voices Against Violence breakfast and luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Schuster Center Wintergarden. Breakfast is from 7:30–9 a.m.The luncheon is from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.

Voices Against Violence is free to attend, and donations are accepted at the event. You can register at www.ywcadayton.org/vav.

This year, Dayton native Beth Stelling will be honored with the Marsha Froelich Survivor Award. The award, now in its eighth year, honors women who embody Froelich's spirit of survivorship, resilience and generosity. Froelich, who died in 2011, served as vice president of development at YWCA Dayton from 2000–2006.

“This award recognizes a woman whose words and actions serve to exemplify, inspire, set an example and celebrate the spirit of a survivor who has overcome the odds and continued on an amazing journey,” said YWCA Dayton President and CEO Shannon Isom.


Stelling was named Best Stand-up Comedian by the Chicago Reader and appeared on “Conan,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Chelsea Lately.” Her latest stand-up special is part of “The Standups” on Netflix. In 2015, Stelling spoke out on social media about being a domestic violence survivor. She incorporated her experience into her stand-up routine.

This year’s keynote speaker is Shan Foster, vice president of external affairs and AMEND Together at YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee. AMEND Together is an initiative that recruits, educates and equips men and boys to serve as advocates for violence prevention and cultural change. Foster graduated from Vanderbilt University where he was named a Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer. In 2008, Foster was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks.

Read the full 2019 Froelich award honoree announcement from YWCA Dayton here.


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