Because of you, 2024 was a year of hope, healing, and justice for countless survivors.
You made sure that when survivors reached out for help, someone was there—ready to respond with compassion and skill. You gave police officers the tools to help victims seek justice. You made sure nurses had the right training to care for survivors and collect critical evidence.
Through the programs you made possible, thousands of first responders gained the skills they need to help survivors through the hardest moments of their lives.
In this Impact Report, you’ll meet survivors like Hannah, who never thought she’d be believed—until she met Detective Kinate. You’ll read about Mrs. Ramirez, whose nurse knew how to help her after Mrs. Ramirez was assaulted in her nursing home. And you’ll hear from Hollis, who was believed—and who now makes it her mission to spread the Start by Believing message everywhere.
Because of you, survivors had more options, more support, and more pathways to healing in 2024. And as we look to the future, your support and your voice are more important than ever.
Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for being someone who fights for justice. These pages show the difference you make.
With sincere gratitude,
Please be advised: This report discusses topics related to sexual assault.
Detective Kinate’s eyes were fixed on the security footage of a woman sprinting naked down the hotel stairwell. Shaking, she threw open the door to the third-floor then let herself into a guestroom. She left minutes later, hastily dressed, dragging a suitcase.
That morning, Detective Kinate had received a call from the hotel manager about a potential crime committed against a guest. Detective Kinate says, “Watching that video, I knew something bad had happened. We had her name—Hannah.* I tracked down her phone number to see if she was okay.”
When Hannah saw the area code of the incoming call, her heart started pounding. She answered, and the voice said, “This is Detective Nate Kinate from Kansas City. I don’t know what happened, but if you were hurt, I can help you.”
She was stunned. Hannah had arrived home to Pennsylvania after the worst experience of her life.
There was a long silence—Detective Kinate thought she’d hung up. Finally, Hannah said, “What can I do now?”
Detective Kinate knew she needed to feel safe; in his experience, pushing for details now, over the phone, would only shut her down.
He told her about Seek Then Speak, on online program that would walk her through a trauma-informed interview where she could write down what happened to her—in her own time, at her own pace.
The next morning, Detective Kinate opened his email to find a complete Seek Then Speak report, detailing everything. He began a full investigation, which led to the suspect’s arrest then guilty plea.
Two years after the assault, Hannah says, “I didn’t think anyone would believe me. I needed space to put the pieces together. Seek Then Speak, and Detective Kinate, gave me that space.”
Thanks to you, survivors have options like Seek Then Speak, so they can make their own decisions, in their own time.
*Details changed for confidentiality.
Hollis will never forget her friend asking, “Are you sure you didn’t want it?”
It was the first response she heard after confiding that she’d been sexually assaulted the night before by a college athlete. The words landed like a slap. Right then, Hollis decided not to tell anyone else.
Weeks later, another friend came to see her. He was worried about the drastic change he saw in Hollis. She had stopped going to class and some days barely made it out of bed. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Hollis hesitated, then told him everything. She braced, waiting for him to blame her.
Instead, he just looked at her, saying words she’ll always remember, “It wasn’t your fault—I believe you.”
In that moment, something small shifted. If he believed her, maybe she could believe in herself too.
It took time, but healing from the trauma of sexual assault gave Hollis a new inner strength. She wanted other survivors to know they aren’t alone.
She found the Start by Believing Campaign, made possible by donors like you. It’s a movement that teaches loved ones and first responders what to say and how to help when someone discloses sexual assault.
Hollis later earned the Miss Wisconsin USA title, and today she uses her platform to spread the Start by Believing message wherever she goes.
Your support and your belief change everything—it ensures survivors hear the words they need most: “I believe you.”
As Felicia recounted the months of escalating violence, Detective Palmer listened intently. She knew that for many jurors, Felicia’s reactions to the abuse might not make sense. She had to build an airtight case.
Detective Palmer didn’t always have the skills to do this, but thanks to your support for advanced training like the Comprehensive Victim Interviewing (CVI) course, she had acquired the tools to help keep Felicia safe.
Felicia had just transferred to a university in Palm Beach County, Florida, when she met Kaden. His constant attention was flattering—until she realized he was controlling her life.
Then he began physically hurting her—always apologizing afterwards. One morning, his violence reached a new level. He forced her to have sex with him, pressing his forearm into her throat until everything went dark.
When she came to, Kaden was crying and promised it would never happen again. Felicia knew that next time, he might kill her.
She told Kaden everything was fine. She got up and made them both lunch—smiling and pretending while she planned her escape.
After she took her last final, she walked into the sheriff’s office and said, “I’m here to file a report. My boyfriend almost killed me.”
Sitting across from Felicia, Detective Palmer said, “What was going through your mind when you got up to make lunch…” Because of her training with EVAWI, she knew what to ask so a jury could understand what it took for Felicia to break free.
You were there for Felicia. Your generosity provided training that helps police keep victims like her safe so they can rebuild their lives.
Detective Theberge could see the tension in every muscle of Dante’s* body. In his mid-20s, Dante had recently moved from Ohio for a job at a New Hampshire mountain resort, ready for a new start.
Detective Theberge knew Dante never expected to be here, speaking to a detective about being sexually assaulted by his supervisor. Dante’s tightly crossed arms and guarded expression showed he was on the verge of leaving.
But Detective Theberge had trained for this.
He drew on the interviewing skills he’d honed through the Online Training Institute (OLTI)—training that YOU supported. “You’re in the driver’s seat,” he said. “We can take a break whenever you need. If you don’t want to answer something, that’s okay. I’m not here to judge—just to gather what you’re ready to share.”
Detective Theberge listened without interrupting, just as his training taught him. He noticed subtle changes—Dante’s words were less clipped, and his posture softened. With emotion, Dante detailed the fear he felt when his supervisor cornered him in the storeroom that night.
After filing the arrest warrant for Dante’s assailant, Detective Theberge reflected that the interview had done more than give Dante a chance to relay what happened. It helped him reclaim control.
Detective Theberge says, “EVAWI training has changed how I investigate cases, and most importantly, how I build trust with victims. Everything hinges on whether a survivor feels safe enough to tell their story.”
You made the difference for survivors like Dante by ensuring police officers have the skills to help them fight for justice.
*This story combines aspects of multiple victims’ experiences.
Maggie* stepped into the patient room at the small rural hospital where she worked, keeping her expression calm despite her nervousness. She was there to provide Mrs. Ramirez with a sexual assault medical forensic exam.
Mrs. Ramirez had just arrived from the nursing home where she lived, accompanied by a police officer and her adult granddaughter. She reported that one of the staff members had sexually assaulted her in the middle of the night.
Maggie had only done a few of these exams before—and never for an older patient like Mrs. Ramirez.
She silently thanked her nurse manager for requiring all nurses in the ER to complete the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Exam (SAMFE) Virtual Practicum. The online Practicum was designed to enhance nurses’ skills to care for survivors of sexual assault. It even included a scenario with an older adult that focused on clear communication and putting the patient at ease.
Maggie could see the anguish etched on Mrs. Ramirez’s face—she’d been hurt at the home where she’d once felt safe. Maggie couldn’t change that, but she could treat Mrs. Ramirez with dignity, care for her injuries, and make sure the evidence she collected could be used in court.
Taking a deep breath, she smiled gently at Mrs. Ramirez and said, “I’m Maggie, your nurse. I’m here to make sure you’re okay.”
You were there for sexual assault survivors like Mrs. Ramirez. Now they are receiving the care they deserve and a better chance for justice.
*This story combines aspects of multiple nurses’ experiences.
As we look ahead, 2025 brings new challenges. The world is shifting, and survivors face more barriers to getting the help they deserve. But one thing remains constant: you.
Because of you, survivors will continue to find hope, healing, and justice. Your support will ensure law enforcement officers, nurses, advocates, and other frontline professionals are equipped to respond with compassion and expertise.
Together, here is our focus in 2025:
- Delivering high-quality online training, so police and other responders with tighter budgets can still gain skills without traveling.
- Expanding Seek Then Speak, so survivors have an alternative way to report to police—especially when agencies are short-staffed.
- Distributing free training on the sexual assault medical forensic exam, so more healthcare providers can confidently care for survivors and collect evidence.
Whatever the year brings, your passion for supporting survivors and your commitment to those who serve them will continue to change lives.
Here’s to building a better future, together.
With gratitude,