This Saturday in Newark NJ we are partnering with multiple organizations to provide training and some security equipment to individuals targeted by violent offenders. The training will cover self-defense, breaking out of chokes, strikes, escape and evasion, threat awareness, counter-surveillance, and security planning. If you get a chance, go check out My Sister’s Lighthouse at https://www.mysisterslighthouse.org/    We have entered into a partnership with them to provide training and security for all their clients in the North East NJ area who need it.

We are also adding to our volunteer staff to help with this expansion. More to follow soon!

We have now helped over 20 families feel safer in their own homes. These families are referred to us by DV shelters and other organizations as being targeted by a violent abuser and living in fear. We aim to respond to the request in 36 hours or less, since time is critical. Sometimes we have responded within a couple of hours. Here are just some of the pictures and texts highlighting what we have done so far!

On June 27th, we lost a very special supporter of our foundation, my niece Allison Gaynor. Ally loved what we were doing and wanted to help. I created an email account for her and told her perhaps we can start with her doing some research and basic email messages. In honor of her memory, her mother (my sister Kim), requested people donate to our foundation…

Over $3,000 was raised…

This will help so many families who are targets of violence who feel no one will help them.

Ally, it looks like you’ve done more for this foundation than anyone.

“There is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS something good and beautiful to be found in tragedy.
When we fail to find it, we are simply not trying hard enough, despite how difficult it might seem. When we do find it, we then know true strength. Surviving the tragic is something we all will do at some point in our lives.
But surviving and then continuing to grow forward despite the pain, that’s where the strong define themselves.

If the loss of Ally inspired others to donate, and that donation helps one woman feel safer in this world, then Ally’s life was a great and profound one, regardless of how short and painful.
Nothing is “meant to be” and destiny is a myth.
There is only “what was, what is, and what will be”….

One of the most rewarding things we do at FYO is visiting a house of someone who has a specific threat against them. The police do all they can but it’s not as if they can camp outside their home 24/7. That is where we come in. A victim advocate contacted us about a woman in Camden who is 4 months pregnant was assaulted by her ex the day before and had eluded the police. She and her family were terrified he was going to come back and harm them like he said he would. We arrived at the home within hours of the request and put in a security camera at the front door, and window/door sensors on each entry point, door stop alarms at each door. We then gave each adult in the house pepper spray and one of our now famous self-defense flashlights after practicing with both. We also gave out our loud personalized panic alarm to carry. She was very grateful and made sure to tell us how much peace of mind we gave her. We do more than just drop this stuff and go. We train and stay in contact with them well after because their safety and well-being is everything to us!

We are now offering a “security and training packet” for shelters and outreach programs to hand out to survivors of violent crime and domestic abuse. This is for individuals who are unable to make it to one of our training sessions. Each packet contains a security sheet with tips and considerations, pepper spray, a self-defense flashlight, panic alarm, door-stop alarm, two window alarm sensors, and a guide how each one works and how they should be used. Between printing and purchasing the equipment each one is about $60 total. So for a donation of $60 we will donate one of these in your name to someone who needs it! We will put your name on it and if you’d like even your email so the person or family could thank you! Go to fyofoundation/shop and select the security package!