Community Hero Award for September 2004

Bill Henry, Kay Cummins and VASAP Volunteers: September's Community Heroes

By Dan Wilhelm, President MCCF

The Community Hero Award for September will be presented to William "Bill" Henry and Kay Cummins, co-chairs of the County's "Victim Services Advisory Board" (VSAB), and to the volunteers of the "Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program" (VASAP). These men and women give thousands of hours of their time to help the victims of vicious crime, sexual assault, abused spouses, and their families. Led by a small staff of employees, the volunteers are called to hospitals and other locations, at all hours of the day or night, without compensation, to provide comfort and counseling to victims and their families. With the police, they are often the first to respond to a victim's needs. They help lead the victim out of the confusion and terror of the situation, and assist in the path to recovery, justice and rebuilding shattered lives. The VASAP has recently instituted a program to continue victim assistance into the courthouses as well.

As VSAP co-chairs, Kay and Bill successfully lobbied the County Council and Executive for changes in the Victims' Service budget including the reinstatement of a budget cut that would have reduced the amount available by 50%. They also lobbied successfully for the enactment of legislative and regulatory changes in police and prosecutorial procedures that will aid victims in recovery of their health and economic well being, and their rights in the criminal courts. Bill and Kay also lobbied successfully for changes in state law before legislative committees often confronting indifference, and educating legislators and staff about victims' rights and the way they were being treated by state agencies. These efforts resulted in many improvements in crime victims' compensation and in sentencing, parole, and probation of offenders.

In addition, Bill devotes approximately 25% of his legal practice to provide pro bono services to crime victims and their survivors. Kay became active in victims' rights advocacy, first as a co-founder of the "Wings of Hope" group and its' newsletter, and then as the newsletter's editor for five and a half years. I believe the depth and scope of their efforts make them worthy of our recognition as true Community Heroes.

This Page Last Edited: September 26, 2004 .