Concordia University basketball teams up with Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center
DANIEL CLIFTON • EDITOR
AUSTIN — When Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center officials found themselves with an opportunity to work with the Concordia University women’s basketball team, they saw it as a unique opportunity to raise much needed funds. But about just as quickly as they noticed those advantages, another realization also occurred.
“It really allows us to educate and reach another demographic that might not have experience (with) abuse themselves or really even witnessed it,” said Kim Kankel of the HLFCC. “One of the best ways to prevent abuse, and help identify it when it is happening, is thorough outreach and education. And that’s a lot of what this is also about.”
While the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center is located in Marble Falls and serves Burnet, Lampasas and Llano counties, and Concordia University is located in Austin, the partnership really shows how much the center’s message and services transcends geographic boundaries. In March, women’s head basketball coach Matt Wallis said his team wanted to help the HLFCC.
One way, the university and HLFCC determined, was by raising funds for the program which offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, an emergency shelter, in-shelter counseling, clothing, legal advocacy, outreach and much more for victims of domestic abuse.
“The women’s basketball team is honored to partner with the HLFCC,” Wallis said in a statement. “This partnership allows us to provide financial support to a great organization, but also educate people on what services are available if they found themselves in need.”
The fundraising component is setting up a booth at the remaining Concordia University baseball and softball home games to collect donations. The team has set a goal of raising at least $1,500.
Those funds go directly to help Highland Lakes residents who are victims of domestic abuse.
The center served approximately 4,000 Highland Lakes residents in 2015. One of the highest points of contacts for the HLFCC comes through the 24-hour hotline. People can call anytime for assistance and help. The hotline (800-66HELP4) is answered by somebody at the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center, not a service located at another site.
But the Concordia University connection goes beyond the fundraising benefits. Kankel explained that it’s also an opportunity to share what the HLFCC does with people who might not know anything about the facility and its programs. But probably just as importantly, it gives the center a chance to educate Concordia students and others about domestic abuse.
Education and outreach is a big part of the HLFCC’s mission.
“It’s vital,” Kankel said regarding outreach. “A lot of people know abuse as bruises or scratches, those things you can see. But abuse doesn’t have to be physical, it can be emotional and mental.
“Putting people down constantly, calling them names or saying ‘you’re stupid,’ ‘you’re worthless,’ that’s emotional abuse,” she added.
Learning what domestic abuse is becomes a first step toward identifying it – whether it’s an individual’s life or somebody they know. Kankel said one of the HLFCC’s goals has been to strengthen its outreach with the college-aged students at Concordia University. The center already works with schools such as Marble Falls Independent School District to educate students on domestic and other forms relational abuse.
While home games for Concordia University are still a bit out of the Highland Lakes, the partnership also gives HLFCC officials a chance to simply share their message with the public. And even if somebody can’t make the drive for one of the remaining home games, Kankel said they can always make donations to the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center at anytime.
The best way right now is simply messaging the center through its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HLFCC (they’re working on updating the actual website) or calling the office at (830) 693-3656.
“Our grants and fundraisers can only go so far,” Kankel said. “The donations from the community, those really help us out. Even a few dollars can be a tremendous boost.”
Concordia University home baseball and softball games
Baseball
vs. Texas-Dallas
• Friday, April 1 at 7 p.m. @ Tornado Field
• Saturday, April 2 at 1 p.m. @Tornado Field
• Saturday, April 2 at 3:30 p.m. @ Tornado Field
vs. Belhaven
• Friday, April 15 at 7 p.m. @Tornado Field
• Saturday April 16 at 1 p.m. @Tornado Field
• Saturday, April 16 at 3:30 p.m. @Tornado Field
vs. Letourneau
• Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m. @Tornado Field
• Saturday, April 23 at 1 p.m. @ Tornado Field
• Saturday, April 23 at 3:30 p.m. @Tornado Field
Softball
vs. UT Dalls
• Friday, April 8 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. @Tornado Softball Field
• Saturday, April 9 at noon @Tornado Softball Field
Concordia University is located at 11400 Concordia University Dr. in Austin (located off RR 620 about two miles west of the Anderson Mill Rd. and RR 620 intersection). Tickets for baseball games are $5 for adults; $5 for students middle school through college; and $3 for children 6-11. There is no admission charge for children 5 and under.
Home softball games are free to attend. Go to athletics.concordia.edu for more information on the times, locations and teams.
daniel@thepicayune.com