MARYSVILLE – A golf tournament and barbecue Friday at Cedarcrest Golf Club will raise money for Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims.
The Everett-based nonprofit organization helps more than 1,300 crime victims and their families throughout the state every year, executive director Jenny Wieland said.
The golf tournament, organized by Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart, comes at a critical time for the organization, Wieland said.
“Over the last three years, the number of people we serve has steadily increased,” and Families and Friends has struggled to find enough money to keep up, Wieland said.
The tournament is the group’s only fund-raiser this year.
Families and Friends offers the state’s only 24-hour hotline for victims of assault and robbery, and families of murder victims and missing people.
The organization also offers support groups, attends court hearings with victims’ families and gives other support such as pointing out the anniversary of a violent crime.
The group does it without regular state funding, surviving mainly on $150,000 in federal money, several other grants and individual donations, Wieland said.
“We’re really grateful that Rick Bart chose to do this golf tournament to benefit Families and Friends,” she said. “As an ex-homicide detective, he’s fully aware of the impact of crime on families and communities.”
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.
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