AUGUSTA — The Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center recently honored nine “Heroes in Healing” — community members who have made a difference to survivors of sexual violence — at the agency’s 14th annual Celebrity Dinner fundraiser.

Those honored were:

Denis Culley, of Mercer, senior staff attorney with Legal Services for the Elderly, who has worked with elderly survivors of sexual assault.

Chip Rumsey, of Waterville, deputy chief of police at the Waterville Police Department, has been associated with the work of sexual violence advocacy centers for many years. In addition to his work as a law enforcement officer, he has served on the board of directors, provided training to advocates, supported fundraisers and other events, and most recently been an integral part of the development of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kennebec and Somerset Counties.

Chuck Hays, of Manchester, president and chief executive officer of MaineGeneral Health, has provided the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kennebec and Somerset Counties, a program of the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center, with rent-free space from MaineGeneral Medical Center.

Pamela Boivin, of Manchester, legal specialist at the Family Violence Project, works with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through the court system in obtaining protection from abuse orders and other needs. She has also served as a volunteer advocate for the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center, is currently a professor at the University of Maine and recently obtained a Ph.D. in criminal psychology.

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Sen. Colleen Lachowicz of Augusta began her work with the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center as a social worker by referring clients and collaborating with the center to help provide services. Most recently she was part of the development committee for the Children’s Advocacy Center.

Michelle Galego, of Augusta, child protective supervisor at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, serves as an advocate for abused children in her role as supervisor of child protective caseworkers. Most recently she has co-chaired the advisory committee for the Children’s Advocacy Center and was part of the development of this program.

Sherri Thornton of Burnham and Barbara Covey, of Oakland, sexual assault forensic examiners at MaineGeneral Medical Center, have been specially trained to provide these exams. They both help coordinate the regional Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program at MaineGeneral Medical Centers in Augusta and Waterville as well as Redington-Fairview General Hospital and Sebasticook Valley Hospital in Pittsfield.

Steve Meister of Winthrop, is medical director at Edmund Ervin Pediatric Center, which is a partner of the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Multi-Disciplinary Team. He is a past board member of the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center and works with the Pediatric Rapid Response Program for children going into foster care.

For more information visit www.silentnomore.org.


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