St. Augustine, Fla. (Oct. 31, 2016) – Once a year, St. Johns County students participate in an art and poetry contest sponsored by Betty Griffin Center to promote “A Day Without Violence.”

The general public will have an opportunity to enjoy some of the top entries submitted to this contest. This show will exhibit some of the top entries, spanning the last 15 years of the contest.

Sponsored by the St. Johns Cultural Council, the art will be hung in the Rotunda Gallery of the St. Johns County Administration Building from Nov. 1, 2016 – Jan. 26, 2017. Open to the public, the opening reception will be held Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 8:15 a.m. All are invited to enjoy refreshments, while viewing the show. Located at 500 San Sebastian View off of US1 North, the St. Johns County Administration Building is open to the public from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For 15 years, Betty Griffin Center has partnered with the St. Johns County Schools to hold the art and poetry contest, which focuses on peace in the home. From all the entries, 13 pieces of art and 12 poems are selected for their annual calendar known as “A Day Without Violence”, which is distributed to every classroom in St. Johns County and sold in the Betty Griffin Center Thrift Stores to raise funds for the organization. This year, over 1,165 art and 65 poetry entries were submitted by students.

St. Johns Cultural Council’s mission is to promote and enhance the local arts, heritage and cultural programs throughout the county. In pursuance of their role in promoting cultural activities throughout the county, the St. Johns Cultural Council sponsors multiple exhibits throughout the year, that are displayed in the Rotunda Gallery of the St. Johns Administration Building, with the opening receptions prior to the St. Johns County Commissioners meetings.

About Betty Griffin Center
The Betty Griffin Center was founded in 1990 by concerned citizens and incorporated as the Safety Shelter of St. Johns County to develop plans to provide shelter for local victims of domestic violence and their children. In 1992, the nonprofit agency contracted with a local motel for space and started a 24-hour crisis line and court advocacy program. By 1994, the agency purchased and opened Betty Griffin House as a permanent shelter. The shelter was expanded in 1998 to meet local demand, and a sexual assault program was added the same year. The Sexual Assault Victim Recovery Program is currently recruiting on call volunteers to provide victim advocacy. For information contact Kelly at 904-808-8544.

Today, Betty Griffin Center shelters 250 to 350 victims of domestic and sexual abuse annually, operates a 24-hour helpline, provides professional counseling for victims of domestic and sexual abuse, provides age appropriate violence prevention training and operates two thrift stores at Julington Square and Anastasia Square to assist in funding the agency’s ongoing operations
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.bettygriffincenter.org. To report if you or someone you know is being abused, call the Betty Griffin Center 24-hour crisis helpline at (904) 824-1555.

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Media Contact:
Ron Whittington
(904) 563-0402
ron@whittingtonpr.com