Domestic violence fund reaches goal/Wi
Domestic violence fund reaches goal By DAN SPRINGER | La Crosse Tribune After her father fatally shot her mother as she prepared to leave him in the early 1990s, Kim Salwolke knew she wanted to find a way to turn her personal tragedy into something that would honor her mother and help others. Salwolke, an employee at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, approached hospital officials last year about establishing a fund to help domestic violence victims start a new life. The Carilee Fund, named after Salwolke’s late mother, was launched in December. A mere 10 months later, the initial $50,000 goal has been met and money can begin to be dispersed, said David Amborn of the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. Several local foundations, individuals, businesses and organizations made donations, many anonymously, Amborn said. In the coming weeks, a committee will begin distributing funds to domestic violence survivors who are in an unsafe situation and financially have nowhere else to turn, said Maureen Funk, a Gundersen Lutheran social worker. It was a perfect time to begin dispersing the funds, Funk said, at the close of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The fund will give out $1,000 for October, another $1,000 in November and December, and $10,000 in 2007, Funk said. “This money will help with any of a number of things a victim needs to start a new life,” Funk said. “That would include helping pay for telephone bills, gas, car repairs and other things where no other funds are available.” Salwolke, whose mother stayed with an abusive, alcoholic husband because she lacked money and transportation, said she knows her mother would be pleased “because it’s helping other people.” “She was a person who wanted to help other people,” Salwolke said. “That was such an important part of who she was.” For more information on the Carilee Fund, call the Gundersen Lutheran Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault Program at (608) 775-6803, (608) 775-4724 or 1-800-362-9567, ext. 56803 or ext. 54724. Dan Springer can be reached at (608) 791-8269 or dspringer@lacrossetribune.com. http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2006/11/02/news/z01goal1102.txt