The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) kicks off the third year of the 100 Men Campaign to help engage local men in the movement to end violence against women and children.  Pictured reviewing campaign materials are (from left) Jan Mancinelli, WRCNM Executive Director; Chris Krajewski, WRCNM Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Program Director and campaign donors David McBride, owner of McBride Construction, Inc.; David Jones Executive Director of the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, and Bruce Koch an instructor at Petoskey High School.

The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) is inviting area men to join the 100 Men Campaign.  The agency began the campaign three years ago to help engage men in the movement to end violence against women and girls.

Those who support the campaign donate $100 or more to be used to provide awareness, education and prevention programs in our community.  In addition, each man will have his name published in a full-page advertisement, taking a public stand to end violence in our community.  They are joining with other men in our community in defining manhood as the strength that respects women and children and promotes healthy, equal, non-violent relationships.

“Through this campaign, the Women’s Center is making strides toward generating the positive change needed to make our community a safer place for all of us,” said WRCNM Executive Director, Jan Mancinelli. “Men understand this is a national crisis—an epidemic—that affects their own daughters, sisters, mothers, partners and friends and they want to do something to stop this type of violence.”

Nearly one in five women surveyed in a recent National Institute of Justice study said they had been raped or had experienced an attempted rape at some point in their lives, and one in four reported having been beaten by an intimate partner.  Last year the WRCNM provided 2,701 nights of shelter to 139 survivors of domestic abuse and their children in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego counties.  The agency also provided support, counseling, advocacy to an additional 959 domestic abuse and sexual assault survivors; 50 of the sexual assault survivors were under age 12.  During the same period, 1,001 individuals were provided support and information through our 24-hour crisis line.

The 100 Men Campaign enlists the help of men in ending violence that affects women and children.  Supporters of the campaign may simply donate funds and have their name listed with other donors.  Some donors become more involved by attending community events sponsored by the 100 Men Campaign,  volunteering with the Violence Prevention Team, serving on the White Ribbon Campaign committee to help raise awareness, or by being a role model to boys and other men.

In the coming year, the 100 Men Campaign will help fund activities such as a free community lecture in March on empowering youth to reach their greatest human potential featuring former NFL player, Joe Ehrmann, named “Most Important Coach in America” by Parade magazine.  There will also be a free workshop featuring Joe Ehrmann for parents, coaches and those who work with youth on how to develop boys and girls into men and women who can then transform culture. There will be continued emphasis on the Coaching Boys into Men program teaching young athletes about respect and non-violence.  White Ribbon Campaign events will invite men to help end violence against women and girls by wearing a white ribbon and pledging to never commit, condone or remain silent about this violence.

Those who make a financial contribution of $100 or more by March 15 will have their names published in upcoming newspaper advertisements.  Donations may be submitted online at wrcnm.org, by mail to WRCNM’s 100 Men Campaign, 423 Porter Street, Petoskey, MI  49770, or by calling the agency’s administrative office at 231-347-0067.