For immediate release: Monday, August 4, 2003

For more information: Larry Eliason, Executive Secretary, SD Commission on Gaming, 605-773-6050 and Susan Sheppick, Program Manager, Victims' Services, SD Department of Social Services, 605-773-3656

(PIERRE, SD) –  Twenty-five local shelters in 22 South Dakota communities have been awarded grants totaling $250,000 to support programs for victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

Larry Eliason, Executive Secretary of the SD Commission on Gaming, says the grant funds come from revenues generated by a tax on bets placed at simulcast racing sites in Sioux Falls, North Sioux City, Aberdeen and Rapid City.  The grants have been awarded annually in July through the SD Department of Social Services since 1997.

Shelters receiving grants through the program last month include:

·        Safe Harbor, Aberdeen, $9,395

·        Northern Hills Crisis Outreach, Belle Fourche, $8,884

·        Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter, Brookings, $9,731

·        Women Escaping A Violent Environment, Custer, $21,499

·        Wholeness Center, Flandreau, $9,372

·        Wiconi Wawokiya/Project SAFE, Fort Thompson, $9,061

·        Huron YWCA Family Violence Program, Huron, $8,988

·        Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center, Lake Andes, $9,487

·        Communities Against Violence and Abuse, Lemmon, $9,218

·        Madison House of Hope, Madison, $9,352

·        White Buffalo Calf Women Society, Mission, $13,060

·        Mitchell Area Safehouse, Mitchell, $10,484

·        Bridges Against Domestic Violence, Mobridge, $9,734

·        Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center, Pierre, $11,292

·        SD Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Pierre, $3,400

·        Working Against Violence, Inc., Rapid City, $12,483

·        Children’s Inn, Sioux Falls, $14,669

·        Rape and Domestic Abuse Center, Sioux Falls, $8,817

·        Women’s Circle Support Services, Sissteon, $9,573

·        Victims of Violence Intervention Program, Spearfish, $10,262

·        Crisis Intervention Shelter Service, Sturgis, $10,621

·        Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Vermillion, $9,005

·        Women’s Resource Center, Watertown, $9,155

·        Contact Center Women’s Shelter, Yankton, $9,058

·        SD Network Against Family Violence, Yankton, $3,400

For more information on what domestic and sexual abuse programs and resources are available in South Dakota, contact the SD Department of Social Services, Domestic Abuse Program, at (605) 773-3656.