INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence recently recognized Mary Ann Cox as Volunteer of the Year for her 23 years of working for victims of violence.
Cox, Warsaw, worked with Altrusa Club and other community members to establish the Beaman Home shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children in 1986. Since then, she has served in many capacities on the Beaman Home's board of directors. She currently serves as the board's secretary emeritus. She also has been instrumental in raising funds for the shelter.
Cox said the plight of victims of domestic violence compelled her to get involved in helping them.
"They're made helpless and hopeless because they're just physically and emotionally beat down," she said. "It totally tears the family up."
Cox said domestic violence is a learned behavior that can be traced in some families as far back as 100 years.
"If we're stopping it in one family unit, we've stopped it in that family," she said. "It's a passion of mine."
Cox was nominated for the ICADV award by Beaman Home Executive Director Eugenia Campbell. Campbell said she has known Cox for more than 20 years. She said Cox's involvement with Beaman Home has included most aspects of the shelter's services including staffing the shelter's 24-hour hotline and filling in when the shelter was short-staffed.
"She's always there for us, she always has been," said Campbell. "She's very kind and she's empathetic, and the clients feel her kindness and understanding."
Cox said though she's worked with many other great volunteers, she always encourages others to get involved.
"Domestic violence is a real problem and we need to address it," she said. "We can't do it without volunteers."
For more information about the Beaman Home's services, call 574-267-7701 or visit www.thebeamanhome.org
