Susan Reynolds will never forget the day she paid a visit to the Women and Children First shelter to drop off toys and clothes for the residents. She and her two daughters met a mother and her baby there. Both had been victims of domestic abuse.
“The baby was only a few months old, and was legally blind and in poor physical condition. He had several serious health problems due to his father abusing his mother when he was in utero.”
That a parent would hurt both his partner and unborn child seems unthinkable, yet the statistics speak to a startling reality: nationally, nearly one in four women report violence at the hand of a boyfriend or spouse at some point in her life. A full 65 percent of abusers who harm their partner will harm their children as well. And a woman is beaten every 15 seconds in the U.S.
It’s those numbers the daughter of Little Rock real estate icon Janet Jones has devoted herself to fighting. Following her love for literature, Susan obtained her bachelor’s in English and master’s in writing, then took a decidedly different path to the bond-selling business. Her mother suggested she put her sales experience to use at the Janet Jones Company.
She’s established an esteemed reputation in the 15 years since, closing more than $150 million in real estate transactions and being named one of the top five real estate agents by both this magazine and Arkansas Business. And she’s become a fervent contributor to the community.
In addition to volunteer roles in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, the Junior League of Little Rock, UAMS and a host of others, she’s become a major source of support for Women and Children First. Following the suggestion of her friend Cindy Murphy, advisory chair for WCF, she joined the board of directors six years ago.
“It is often difficult for a woman in an abusive relationship to leave the only home they have known, especially when they have no real means of supporting themselves,” Susan explains. “For some of these women leaving is very difficult, as they often go in the middle of the night carrying nothing but their children, fearing for their lives. It is a brutal truth that many of us are not even aware of.”
Women and Children First is the state’s largest domestic violence shelter, and the only one in central Arkansas with a secure and confidential location. It offers holistic support consisting of education, legal assistance, advocacy and on-site mental health services. It also operates the state’s domestic violence crisis hotline.
The shelter currently houses a record 53 women and children. “All of our services are provided free of charge to anyone in need, and increasing need along with increasing awareness requires that more services are provided to more people on every given day,” Cindy says. “Fundraising accounts for a full third of our annual budget, and with grant funding being cut regularly, and distribution of grant funds more and more difficult to guarantee, it is likely to become a larger percentage of our budget.”
To help fill the budget gap, Susan’s committed herself this year to chairing the Woman of the Year Gala, WCF’s annual black-tie fundraising event. In addition to providing a full quarter of the nonprofit’s operating funds, the gala is a chance to honor an individual for going above and beyond in the fight against domestic violence.
This year’s honoree is Terri Erwin, who fell in love with the organization’s mission after attending the gala in 2008. “I was so impressed with the mission of the shelter and how the shelter empowers women to make a better life for themselves and for their children,” she says.
For Susan and the rest of Women and Children First, choosing Terri was easy. Terri’s given her time to the Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the Junior League of Little Rock and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and its Opus Ball.
“Although several outstanding women were considered as the possible nominee, the vote was unanimous that we honor Terri. Her work in the community is widely known. She is a beautiful woman, both inside and out,” Susan says. “She is truly amazing.”
This year’s gala will be held Jan. 12 at The Peabody Little Rock, with a hosted reception in the lobby of the ballroom 6–7 p.m. The ballroom opens around 7, with Today’s THV anchor Craig O’Neill as emcee. Tickets are $250 and tables of 10 are $2,500, available by calling 376-3219.
“When I learned of the statistics and had a tour of the shelter with Cindy, I knew I wanted to contribute my time and efforts to WCF. It wasn’t even really a decision, but was just something I had to do,” Susan says. “One of our favorite scriptures is from Luke 12:48: ‘To whom much has been given, much will be expected.’ To help others is an integral part of our value system and how we want to live our lives.”
Women and Children First Woman of the Year Gala
When: Jan. 12, 6 p.m. | Where: The Peabody Little Rock Grand Ballroom
Tickets: $250 per person, $2,500 for table of 10 | Info: 376-3219, www.WCFArkansas.org