Community Pays Tribute to Call for Help at Anniversary Dinner

Community leaders and friends of Call for Help joined to celebrate the agency’s contributions and accomplishments at the Anniversary Dinner on June 17. More than 125 guests were in attendance.

Four leaders shared their observations on Call for Help and how they value they agency. They were: Illinois State Sen. James F. Clayborne Jr., Dana Rosenzweig of the St. Clair County Mental Health Board, Carrie Ward of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Judge Milton Wharton of the St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Former Call for Help client Khadijah Works talked about how she benefited from Call for Help’s former youth residential program (now the Transitional Living Center), and how at various difficult times in her life, she’s turned to Call for Help.

Sexual Assault Victims Care Unit staff members Jackie Smith and Sylvia Harrell told the story of how they worked with an elderly rape victim and the extreme fear she experienced in the aftermath. They worked with the woman to deal with her fears; they also arranged for frequent police patrols in her area.

JoAnn Pisel, who served as executive director of Call for Help for 27 years from 1976 to 2003 and oversaw the growth of the agency, was recognized with a standing ovation.

Special thanks to Bonita Cornute of KTVI-TV who provided exceptional service as emcee. Wonderful musical entertainment was provided by the East St. Louis High School Jazz Band, who had just returned from performing on the big stage at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

Thanks also to event sponsors Bank of Belleville and Allsup, Inc. Thanks to the companies that purchased ads in the program book, as well as the donors who contributed some 60 items to the silent auction. Thanks to Bellecourt Manor, a historic meeting facility in downtown Belleville, for their outstanding food and facilities.