[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16337]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER, RECIPIENT OF THE 
              LACKAWANNA PRO BONO'S ROBERT W. MUNLEY AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 2015

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Women's 
Resource Center which will be awarded the 2015 Lackawanna Pro Bono's 
Robert W. Munley Award. Lackawanna Pro Bono is a non-profit 
organization established in 1997 to increase the availability of free 
legal representation for low-income individuals and families throughout 
Lackawanna County.
  The Women's Resource Center is a non-profit organization located in 
Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Women's Resource Center is the sole 
provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services in Lackawanna 
and Susquehanna Counties. Since 1976, Women's Resource Center has 
provided free and confidential services that support justice, autonomy, 
restoration, and safety for adult and child survivors of domestic 
violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Women's 
Resource Center utilizes a holistic approach, providing crisis and 
advocacy services, safe housing, transitional housing and civil/legal 
representation for survivors. Programs are designed to be flexible to 
meet the needs of survivors from diverse ethnic, cultural, racial, and 
socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2014, Women's Resource Center provided 
services to 1,504 survivors of domestic violence and 297 survivors of 
sexual assault, providing safe housing for 145 families. Civil legal 
representation was provided for 110 program participants with 206 case 
filings.
  Today, under the leadership of Executive Director Peg Ruddy, the 
Women's Resource Center remains a dynamic force in northeastern 
Pennsylvania, helping over 50,000 women and children in Lackawanna and 
Susquehanna Counties rebuild their lives free of violence and fear 
since beginning operations. Of that number, 42,138 were adult and child 
victims of domestic violence and 9,949 victims of sexual abuse. Those 
reaching out for help come from all walks of life, socioeconomic 
backgrounds, education, ethnicities, and sexual orientation. Services 
are free and extended to everyone, including family members, adult 
survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and men in same sex relationships.
  It is an honor to recognize the Women's Resource Center for the great 
service it has done for the community, and I extend my congratulations 
on being awarded the Lackawanna Pro Bono's Robert W. Munley Award. I 
commend the Women's Resource Center for the great efforts it puts forth 
to make northeastern Pennsylvania a better community.

                          ____________________