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T HE F AMILY S UNSHINE C ENTER ’ S F ALL A WARENESS AND F UNDRAISING C AMPAIGN — I C ARE TM Domestic violence is a pervasive and devastating problem with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men, age 18 and older, experiencing do- mestic violence at some point during their lives. The Family Sun- shine Center (FSC) received over 2000 crisis calls last year and served over 1800 domestic violence clients through either safe shelter or counseling services. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 10 million women and men in the U.S. suffer physical violence each year at the hands of an intimate partner and 7 million children live in families where domestic violence occurs. These violent acts shatter peo- ple’s sense of well-being, cause health problems that can last a lifetime, and can diminish chil- dren’s ability to function well in school and in life. FSC is on a mission to offer hope, healing, shelter, advocacy, empowerment, and education with a goal to end domestic violence. This month, FSC will launch an awareness and fundraising campaign in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The campaign is called iCare™, meaning “I care about addressing domestic violence in my community.” The iCare™ cam- paign primarily targets the business community to help drive wide- spread community awareness about domestic violence—risk factors, red flags and where victims can go for help. The goal is to blanket the seven-county service area (Autauga, Butler, Chilton, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes and Montgomery counties) and recruit busi- nesses to support the initiative. Awareness and fundraising activities will occur throughout this month. The campaign culminates on Friday, October 26, with employees of participating businesses wearing a symbolic “black eye” sticker and lapel sticker that says, “Ask Me Why I Care.” iCare™ combines partnership and community in order to affect change. Six Community Leaders were recruited to serve as the face of the campaign and represent Montgomery, Prattville, Wetumpka, and Greenville. Participants include: Tay Knight, as the FSC Executive Director; Leslie Sanders, Southern Division Vice President, Ala- bama Power Company; Quincy Minor, Presi- dent/COO of Information Transport Solutions a computer networking company based in We- tumpka; Katrina Keefer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Baptist Health and FSC Board Member; Evelyn Causey, Presi- dent of Hayneville Communications and Big Mo, Montgomery Biscuits mascot. If you are interested in learning more about how to participate in the iCare™ campaign, call Tisha Rhodes, Public Affairs and Development Director at 334.206.2100. You can support FSC’s mission simply by going to familysun- shine.org and hitting the GIVE button followed by Donate Now. 24-hour crisis assistance is available by calling 334.263.0218 OR 800.650.6522. If you would like to volunteer to help advance the cause and support the mission, please contact our Administrative & Counseling Office by calling 334.206.2100. 50 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com CITY BUZZ ................................................................................................................................ T ROY U NIVERSITY RECEIVES $3.2 MILLION GRANT FOR C ENTER FOR M ATERIALS AND M ANUFACTURING S CIENCES Troy University has received a $3.2 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the largest ever received by the University within the science disciplines, to establish the Center for Materials and Manufacturing Sci- ences, focusing on research in the areas of polymers and polymer recycling. The three-year grant will enable the University to purchase lab research equipment, provide scholarships for students and provide support for research and the management of the center, which will be a part of Troy’s School of Science and Technol- ogy. "We are very excited, and we hope that this is only the begin- ning,” said Dr. Govind Menon, director of Troy’s School of Sci- ence and Technology. “It is absolutely necessary for us to connect with the industry. It is one thing to reside entirely within aca- demia and do our own work, but it is another thing entirely to create very applicable technologies.” The project will connect the faculty, students, and resources of Troy University with local and regional industries, such as KW Plastics, so that they can advance together as partners. It will fuel economic development through a productive partner- ship that gives the faculty and students hands-on experience. “The City of Troy has always enjoyed a wonderful town- gown relationship with Troy University,” saidMarcus Paramore, President of the Troy City Council. “Bringing this center here to the University will help produce job-ready graduates. When they are ready to go to work, we want to ensure that we have job opportunities here for them. In the last 18 months, the City of Troy and Pike County have brought in more than 600 new jobs. Having qualified individuals to go to work in those jobs is key to us. If they stay here and are gainfully employed here, then that is what helps our community grow.” “I can think of no better university to receive this grant,” said former Congressman Terry Everett, who serves on the School of Sciences and Technology Advisory Council. “Troy University is a great steward of the resources it receives, and I know the University will put this grant to good use. I’m espe- cially pleased with the way Troy University is pursuing new ini- tiatives in science and technology that will advance our under- standing and serve our development in the state, region and country. n