February 12 marks the tenth anniversary when we remember VOICES co-founder Beverly Eckert and the other 49 individuals and an unborn child who perished when Continental Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York. Beverly was traveling to Buffalo to attend a ceremony at Canisius High School.
As we begin the new year we would like to thank our donors and partners for your support in 2018! Thanks to your generosity Voices of September 11th continues our mission of providing critical support services and access to resources and mental health care for victims' families, survivors and responders.
We wish you and your family a joyous holiday season with peace, warmth, an joy in the New Year! Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
VOICES Resiliency Symposium: Knowledge to Practice, Pathways to Long-Term Healing was held on Sunday, September 9 in New York City. The event focused on providing a victim-centered approach to responding to acts of terrorism and mass violence and bridging the gap between research and practice.
As we gather to commemorate the 17th Anniversary - in New York City, at the Pentagon, in Shanksville, PA and in local communities, we remember the 2,977 precious lives lost on that tragic day. September 11 is also a day to remember all those who have been affected since. We pay tribute to the over 2,000 who have died of 9/11 related illnesses, and the over 40,000 survivors and responders who are currently in treatment for serious medical and mental health conditions.
As the 17th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, we invite you to visit VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial Project, commemorating the 2,977 lives lost and documenting the stories of survivors. As you reflect and remember, consider adding a personal reflection or story to our collection.
We hope you can join us at the beautiful and serene Grace Farms for our summer interns' annual community presentation. Our interns from New Canaan High School will present "Reflecting and Moving Forward: Stories of Resiliency After 9/11." The program is free and open to the public. The presentation will include a video that chronicles the stories of survivors and responders, highlighting their personal resilience and the relevance of 9/11 today.
Tomorrow, Tuesday August 7 at 12:00pm, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee is hosting a Congressional briefing to discuss the mental health needs of victims of terrorism. As you know, this is a topic that has always been near and dear to my heart. I am participating on the panel along with John Feal from the FealGood Foundation and others. The event will be LiveStreamed.
VOICES 10th Annual Always Remember Gala was held on April 12 at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. A special thanks to ESPN's Mike Greenberg for serving as our emcee and congratulations to this years' honorees - Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and 60 Minutes Foreign Correspondent Lara Logan. Our speakers' inspirational stories of resilience contributed to a strong sense of community as we came together to reflect and look to the future with optimism.
In the wake of yesterday's shootings in Florida many schools have implemented police security. Parents in our local community are asking for guidance on how to answer their children's questions about the shootings and the increase in security, as well as addressing concerns about their safety. We wanted to share interviews that our friends, Dr. Robin Gurwitch and Dr. Melissa Brymer participated in, and a link to suggestions from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network to help guide your conversations with your children and teens