October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Genieve Shelter plans to mark the observance with a fundraiser and participation in several regional events designed to promote awareness of domestic violence.

“A woman is beaten in the United States every nine seconds,” said Mary Williams-Davis, the executive director of the Genieve Shelter. “This month is important, because advocates from all over come together to raise awareness of domestic violence and advocate to end violence against women and their children.”

The Genieve Shelter, which serves women in Suffolk, Franklin, and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties, has so far this year provided 145 families with emergency shelter, responded to 365 hotline calls and provided 3,488 nights of shelter to domestic violence victims. About 587 individuals were provided assistance like transportation, child care, court accompaniment, support groups and job assistance.

“The financial generosity of community support allowed us to accomplish these services,” Williams-Davis said.

To garner more of that support, the organization will hold a casino night fundraiser Oct. 28. The theme is “Beat the Odds … Overcome Domestic Violence.”

The event will be held at the Smithfield Center, 220 N. Church St., Smithfield. For a $50 ticket, participants can enjoy blackjack, roulette, craps, virtual golf and horse races, and more.

People can also donate a prize for $25, become a horse race sponsor for $100 or become a corporate sponsor. Several different types of corporate sponsorship are available; business owners should call the Genieve Shelter for more information.

“We thought it would be something different,” Williams-Davis said. “It’s just a good, fun way to raise awareness of domestic violence.”

She said it is important for the community to support the Genieve Shelter.

“We’re providing more resources to help them become secure,” Williams-Davis said. “Most of them have to start over. They’re calling for assistance to get away from the situation they came from.”

In addition to holding the fundraiser, the Genieve Shelter also is participating in a Domestic Violence Walk in Smithfield on Oct. 15.

For more information on the Genieve Shelter, call 925-4365 or visit home.earthlink.net/~genieve88.