The Washington Redskins cheerleaders and non-profit organization Fear 2 Freedom had a special night Tuesday, compiling 150 care packages for victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.
Tuesday evening was a powerful night for the Washington Redskins cheerleaders and the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation as they partnered with Fear 2 Freedom to put together 150 care packages for victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.
The Redskins Cheerleaders put together care packages to benefit women and children in the hospital who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence on Tuesday, Nov. 1st, 2016.
Fear 2 Freedom (F2F), a non-profit organization founded by Rosemary Trible in 2011, hosts 'Celebration Events' across the country to allow universities and non-profit organizations the opportunity to assemble 'F2F Kits', which are sent to local hospitals and domestic violence shelters for victims of sexual assault. Trible, a sexual assault survivor herself, was in attendance on Tuesday night along with members of the F2F staff to put on a memorable experience for the Redskins cheerleaders.
"In the last three years, we've delivered 13,000 victims these Fear 2 Freedom kits," Trible told the cheerleaders. "We're happy to be able to share our story with each one of you."
Included in the kits are appropriately sized clothes, toiletries, a journal, a "You Matter 2" card, a resource card, a Freedom Bear and a personal handwritten note. All personal notes for the 150 kits were written by the cheerleaders.
Before making the kits, Trible introduced Kate Ranta, who shared her incredibly difficult experience with domestic violence – a story that moved the entire room. After Ranta was done sharing, many of the cheerleaders immediately walked up to Ranta, applauding her bravery.
"For us, we always stress supporting other women," Redskins cheerleaders director Stephanie Jojokian said. "Turning around things that happen to us into positives. Secretly we wish we could see who we're helping and see how it helps them and affects them. But it's kind of that pay it forward and we know it will. I think this is a great thing for us to do."
The Redskins are also involved with F2F's current 'Be the Change' campaign, which includes the self-titled 'Be the Change' educational film that recently won an Emmy. The film features Redskins President Bruce Allen and linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, and can be previewed at fear2freedom.org/change.
After assembling the kits, the cheerleaders posed with the Emmy and Trible before taking the kits to an ambulance provided by INOVA. Although the event lasted just over an hour, it was clear the impact of the event would last more than one evening.
"Receiving this kit in general helps bring some light to [a victim's] world," F2F marketing and programming director Amanda Link said. "Receiving a note from a cheerleader, letting them know they're thinking about them, again, it will just bring another level of happiness. Seeing that the cheerleaders are thinking about them, and that they know they can overcome this issue, it will help them be stronger and start their healing journey sooner."
