1Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding of America's
2first rape crisis center, Women Organized Against Rape.

3WHEREAS, Formally known as Women Organized Against Rape, WOAR
4was organized in 1973 at the Philadelphia General Hospital as
5the first rape crisis center in Pennsylvania and the United
6States; and

7WHEREAS, For 40 years, WOAR has been a leader in preventing
8and stopping sexual violence and abuse; and

9WHEREAS, WOAR was the first organization to partner with
10medical, criminal justice and law enforcement systems to help
11women deal with trauma and to ensure that their cases were
12properly prosecuted; and

13WHEREAS, Over the last 40 years, WOAR has been a nonprofit
14organization whose mission has been to eliminate all forms of

1sexual violence and has advocated for the rights of victims of
2sexual assault and abuse through a comprehensive array of
3services for adult and child survivors of sexual assault, their
4families and communities across Philadelphia; and

5WHEREAS, WOAR has received numerous awards for their
6advocacy, quality of service, educational programs and
7leadership; and

8WHEREAS, WOAR has developed a Direct Services Department that
9provides a 24-hour hotline, free individual and group counseling
10to children and adults who have experienced sexual abuse or
11sexual assault, counseling in Spanish, hospital and court
12accompaniment and Latino outreach services; and

13WHEREAS, WOAR's Education Department offers training on
14issues of sexual violence and personal safety within schools,
15social service organizations, community centers and workplaces
16throughout Philadelphia; and

17WHEREAS, WOAR has partnered with the University of
18Pennsylvania, Drexel University, University of the Sciences and
19Temple University to establish formal campus sexual assault
20programs; and

21WHEREAS, WOAR receives funding from various Federal, State
22and local government agencies, as well as foundations,
23individual donors and fundraising efforts; and

24WHEREAS, In conjunction with organizations such as the
25Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), WOAR works to
26prevent sexual assault and support survivors; and

27WHEREAS, WOAR's most recent accomplishment is the creation
28and implementation of the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response
29Center (PSARC), which is the first of its kind rape-trauma
30center that offers better services, less wait, personalized care

1and ensures crisis counseling services; therefore be it

2RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize Women
3Organized Against Rape for their efforts to stop and prevent
4sexual violence and abuse in all forms and to assist the
5survivors of such incidents and congratulate WOAR on the 40th
6anniversary of its founding.