County sings With One Voice to raise money to fight Domestic Violence

County sings With One Voice to raise money to fight Domestic Violence

By Kevin Dayhoff November 1, 2009

On November 21, Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland and Human Services Programs will sponsor the annual “With One Voice” - an evening of fine music concert at St. John Catholic Church, 43 Monroe Street, in Westminster.

The annual event always attracts a full house at St. John Catholic Church to raise money for the Carroll County Domestic Violence Safe House and raise awareness about domestic violence.

Among the performers for this year’s concert are: Ted Dix, organist; Children’s Chorus of Carroll County; McDaniel College Madrigal Singers; Old Line Statesmen Barber Shop Chorus; Masterworks Chorale; Carroll Singers; Westminster Trombone Choir; Genesis One; Coram Deo; and Carroll’s Idol 2009, Floyd Jones.

More than 1.5 million women are physically and/or sexually abused by an intimate partner every year in the United States, according to information provided by the Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland in Westminster

To put the crime of domestic violence into perspective; during the course of the Vietnam War, over 58,000 American service members lost their lives. During the same time period, “51,000 American women were killed in the U.S., by men who supposedly loved them,” according to Donald J. Hunt, who wrote “Break the Silence,” in May 1996.

In the time it takes you to drink a cup of coffee and read this column, “thirteen women will be physically abused in America,” according to Mr. Hunt.

In the latest information available for this article, from 2001 to 2005 the average number of domestic violence reports was 463, according to Maryland State Police records - Uniform Crime Reports.

From 2001 to 2005, the average number of interim protective orders was 103, temporary orders were 743, and final protective orders granted were an average of 399.

The web site for Family and Children’s Services presents sobering facts about domestic violence:

More women between the ages of 15 to 44 are injured due to domestic violence than in car accidents, mugging and rapes combined. Of women murdered in the United States, it is estimated that more than 50 percent were killed by their current or former male partner.

Sixty-three percent of men under age 21 who are incarcerated in the U.S. for homicide, are serving time for killing their mother's abuser. Violent juvenile offenders are four times more likely to have grown up in a home where they saw violence than the population at large.

Across the nation, fifty percent of homeless women and children left their homes to escape domestic violence. Of women who visit medical emergency rooms, it is estimated that up to 35 percent of injuries resulted from domestic violence.

Lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism, and non-productivity resulting from domestic violence cost U.S. businesses $100 million annually.

Tickets for the concert are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 16 and under. They are available at the Carroll Arts Council, Coffey Music, Optics Limited, Stu’s Music, Hess Music, Family and Children's Services Office, and the Human Services Programs office.

Tickets are also available at the door. For more information: 410-876-1233 - 410-857-2999 ext. 3060

Annual With One Voice concert, Art Artists Culture Carroll Co, Carroll Co Childrens Chorus, Music, Non-profits Family Children’s Services, Westminster Art Culture Artists

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