Imagine 400 of your closest friends—your neighbors, your co-workers, your elected officials, members of your community law enforcement teams—joining you for dinner to support victims of domestic violence. This has been happening for 20 years! In order to combat the myth that an uptick of domestic abuse occurs during the NFL Super Bowl, The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) created the DVIP Souper Bowl, not only to generate funds for DVIP’s programming, but also to educate the community about domestic violence and the needs that the organization has.For the $25 admission price ($15 for students, kids 12 and under are free), guests can select a unique bowl to take home, enjoy all the soup they care to eat, and listen to live music from local blues legend Kevin BF Burt. The Souper Bowl features the best soups from more than 30 area restaurants, including Trumpet Blossom Café and Basta. Our sponsors include The University of Iowa Community Credit Union, Great Western Bank, Urban Acres Real Estate, Hills Bank, Little Village Magazine, Geico, EPIC Functional Medicine, Toyota of Iowa City, AW Welt Ambrisco Insurance, Southgate Development, and Skogman Realty.This year’s event will be held Thursday, February 2nd, 5:30-7:30pm at the Clarion Highlander Hotel at 2525 N Dodge St, Iowa City, IA. Tickets are available online at http://bit.ly/2i3J64p and at Fired Up Iowa City and these Hills Bank locations: Coralville, Gilbert Street and the Old Capitol Mall.
“My favorite part of this event each year, is seeing the community come together—it’s like a family reunion. And you will see a table here of law enforcement officials and a table here of elected officials…this is truly a favorite community event,” says Kristie Fortmann-Doser, DVIP Executive Director.
The FBI estimates that 1 in 3 women will be affected by intimate partner violence, dating violence or stalking by an intimate partner. Nearly 500 people attend this event annually, providing much needed funding for victims facing the impact of violent crime and homelessness due to abuse. DVIP is a United Way agency and relies on private donations to provide services to children and adults affected by violence. DVIP provides crisis intervention and support services to more than 1900 women, children and men last year, and received nearly 18,000 hotline calls. Confidential information and assistance is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-373- 1043.