'Bash' Funds Help Safe Passage Help Others

The Bash had a carnival theme, complete with a balloonist and stilt walker. Sponsored by Anytime Fitness, all proceeds go to Safe Passage, Inc.

Batesville resident Tory Bowen Flynn shared her sexual assault story at the The Bash Before The Stash to benefit Safe Passage, Inc. on Saturday, May 17. Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - A landmark court case, where the word “rape” was banned from the court hearing in 2006, was the center of the speaker’s topic at the 5th annual Bash Before the Stash, a fundraiser for Safe Passage, the domestic and sexual violence center that serves Southeast Indiana. Sponsored by Anytime Fitness, the event was held May 17 at the Lawrenceburg Event Center with over 200 in attendance.

Tory Bowen Flynn, a Batesville resident and Director of Communications/Global Affairs for Hillenbrand, shared her story of being raped while in college and her court case. As she told the audience, the case took an out-of-the-ordinary turn when the defendant’s attorney moved to prohibit Bowen and witnesses from using words including "rape," "sexual assault kit," "victim," "assailant." She was outraged and refused to sign the gag order, instead writing to every major news outlet the injustice of it, and including a copy of the language ban. A media firestorm resulted, along with a lawsuit against the judge and a victims’ right to a fair trial.

The “language ban” case made it to the US Supreme Court, and though it was not heard, as most are not, legal precedence was created. Flynn said, “I am proud to say that today, a rape victim, if they are brave enough to report the crime, and the state has enough evidence to take the case to trial, and a victim of the crime takes the stand, now, can say in their own words what happened to them.” The audience erupted into applause several times throughout her presentation for the progress made with the legislation and her own personal journey, and gave Flynn, with her husband in the audience, a standing ovation. She credited a Nebraska nonprofit organization much like Safe Passage with her healing. “These services you are providing are a gift. I would not be the woman I am today without them,” she said. Flynn serves on the board of the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and is leading a Christian counseling network and book club with Safe Place, Safe Passage’s sexual assault crisis center.

Proceeds from the Bash Before the Stash fundraiser, which included a silent and live auction emceed by Tim Doll, go toward assisting victims and survivors to get their life on track, away from violence. All services are free and confidential. Safe Passage provides help with court advocacy, children’s programming, job and housing assistance, further education, support group, counseling and emergency shelter. The organization has a satellite office in Dearborn County with weekly support group and three fulltime staff workers. Last year, nearly 400 from the county utilized either the toll-free line, shelter or non-residential services of Safe Passage and Safe Place, the new sexual assault crisis center under Safe Passage.

The Bash featured a carnival theme with a stilt walker, balloonists magician, caricature artist and games. Jane Yorn, Executive Director of Safe Passage, was overwhelmed with the response from Anytime Fitness and the community. “We are so pleased with the support of the county either by attending this event, decorating a table, sponsoring it or providing an auction item. We at Safe Passage feel very blessed to have such a caring partner in Anytime Fitness to help make our community safer, healthier, and just better for so many.” 

For more information on Safe Passage go to www.safepassageinc.org, or for Safe Place, the sexual assault center, go to www.safeplaceforhope.org. The 24 hour toll-free line is 812-933-1990. The next fundraiser in the county for Safe Passage is a golf outing at Hidden Valley Golf Course on July 29. Contact Al Schrand at Whiskey City Antique Mall at 812-290-5972 for reservations and information.

Thanks to Bash Before the Stash $1000 sponsors: Highpoint Health, ABC Financial, Oyler Family Dentistry, Lawrenceburg, Octane Fitness, Perfect North Slopes, Haag Ford, St. Elizabeth Health Care, Witkemper Insurance, Kelly B Photography, FAI, WSCH, Negangard Tent and Rental, Lohmiller Foundation, ClearSound, Ellis Events; Silver sponsors: Conservative Financial Solutions, Margaret Mary Health, Civista Charitable Foundation, Zimmer Tractor, CalComm Indiana, Sousa Realty Group; Purple sponsors: The Friendship State Bank, Maxwell Construction, Innovative Roofing Solutions, Ivy Tech/L’burg, Rullman Hunger Funeral Home.