The Abbey Springs Ladies Golf League hosts their annual charity golf outing each year to raise money for a local non-profit organization. This year New Beginnings APFV was the recipient of their largesse, and what a largesse it was. They were able to raise a grand total of $22,500, their largest total ever!
New Beginnings APFV, with offices in Elkhorn, Whitewater and Jefferson, is the advocacy agency for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and sexual harassment serving Walworth and Jefferson Counties. It is a small agency of 12 employees and 6 interns and has a large impact on our community. This year alone the staff have served over one thousand clients, breaking records for past years. Their work is confidential and free of charge. Government grants provide some funding for the work they do. However, due to increased uncertainty around the availability of grant money for this work over the past few years, private donations have become increasingly critical. This is why the Abbey Springs Ladies Golf League donation is so important.
New Beginnings Executive Director, Suzi Schoenhoft, was overwhelmed at the response from the golf outing. She had nothing but praise for the primary organizers Sue Wendt, Annie Falkenburger and Peggy Knutte as well as for all the women who participated in the golf outing. The energy and the interest in New Beginnings she had experienced the day of the event had given her hope for a good outcome, but the results exceeded her wildest expectations.
Sue Wendt, the chairperson for the Abbey Springs event noted that the mission of New Beginnings had really resonated with their members, causing them to go all out at the event. In fact, the importance of New Beginnings’ work with domestic violence victims really hit home for her one day while standing in line at the pharmacy. The young woman in line ahead of her was distraught because she had had to take time off from her new job to get medicine for her young son. She confided that she had only recently become a single parent as she had left her husband due to domestic violence and was living with her parents. Wendt was able to inform her about New Beginnings and encouraged her to see if they had resources which could help. Then the man who had been standing in line behind and could not help but hear their conversation stepped in. He too had been a victim of physical abuse by his former wife. He recommended that the young woman seek help from the Walworth County Housing Authority as they had helped him. The encouragement and advice brought the young woman to tears as he told her, “You’re going to make it.” For Wendt, this chance encounter underscored the importance of the fundraiser for New Beginnings.
For Schoenhoft, Wendt’s story highlights the importance of housing for survivors of domestic abuse. She noted that the board is fully behind renovating the third building of their complex, which is currently empty, into two apartments. The goal is to use the apartments as rental units specifically for survivors who have made a clean break with the past and are working to make a fresh start and find permanent housing in the community.
October is domestic violence awareness month. Diane Bustamante, the New Beginnings Board President, would like to invite the community to their upcoming fundraiser on Sunday, October 23rd at Holi Cannoli Restaurante in Elkhorn. For information on “Cocktails and Cuisine for a Cause – Victory over Violence” go to the agency’s website at newbeginningswalworth.com.
The event will have live entertainment, delicious food and drink, games, an amazing raffle, and more! Event tickets can be purchased online or at New Beginnings offices in Elkhorn, Whitewater or Jefferson. Raffle tickets may be purchased at
New Beginnings offices or from a board member (they are listed on the website).
New Beginnings APFV is located at 20 North Church St. in Elkhorn,143 W. Main St. in Whitewater or 874 Collins Road in Jefferson. Their office hours are 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Their 24- hour phone number is (262) 723-4653.
Editor’s note: The above information was provided by New Beginnings APFV. (The credit for this submission was corrected on October 13.)
