ALPINE — The Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend, Inc. has received a $30,000 grant from the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation to continue to provide program services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and violent crime. The services include emergency shelter, food, clothing and transportation, rehabilitative planning, referrals for housing, employment, legal assistance, medical/economic services for indigent families, assistance with protective orders, crime victim’s comp claims, victim impact statements and accompaniment to legal, medical and court proceedings.
FCCBB began as a program of the Alpine Community Center in 1981, growing out of the concerns of three Alpine residents who recognized the problem of violence in families. In June 1982, FCCBB became a separate organization and incorporated as a Texas nonprofit corporation in May 1983. FCCBB serves all victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and personal injury crimes in the five counties of Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos, Presidio and Terrell.
The FCCBB serves over a thousand clients per year with funding from federal, state and private foundation grants. The Deja Vu Thrift Store is a project of the Family Crisis Center, with all proceeds from thrift store sales going to fund the projects of the FCCBB.
FCCBB mission statement reads, “Strengthening communities through empowering Individuals,” and FCCBB advocacy philosophy is to help primary and secondary victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and violent crime by empowering them with the needed tools to build a new life, and to teach them to advocate for themselves and others in the future.
Carl B. and Florence E. King started the foundation that bears their names in 1966. Beginning with gifts from Mr. and Mrs. King, as well as a later bequest from their daughter, Dorothy, the foundation has now grown to more than $50 million in assets and distributes approximately $2 million per year.
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation is principally interested in aging populations, arts, culture and history, children and youth, education, the indigent and nonprofits.
If you are interested in assisting the efforts of the FCCBB through donations or by volunteering your time and talents, please contact Sara Stropoli, executive director, at (432) 837-7254.
