One of “America’s 100 Best Charities”
—Worth magazine
*** UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL APRIL 25, 2007 ***
CONTACT:
Alyssa Oliveri
W: (202) 544-3075, C: (202) 277-7074
Christina Ricci Joins RAINN as National Spokesperson
Ricci to Meet with Congressional Leaders during National
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
April 25, 2007 – (Washington, DC) – RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization, today announced that Christina Ricci has joined the group as a national spokesperson. Ricci has starred in popular films such as Mermaids; The Addams Family; The Opposite of Sex, a role that earned her a Golden Globe nomination; Sleepy Hollow; Monster; Black Snake Moan; Penelope, upcoming;and Speed Racer, upcoming.She also received an Emmy nomination for her role on “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“I’m honored to join RAINN on Capitol Hill this month and I’m looking forward to future opportunities to raise awareness about sexual assault,” said Ricci. “In preparing for my role in Black Snake Moan, I was shocked to learn that someone is sexually assaulted every two and a half minutes in this country. We must shed light on this tragedy, and encourage sexual assault victims to get help through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline. Rape is the most traumatic experience anyone can survive and I want to help.”
Ricci recently produced several public service announcements for RAINN. In addition, as part of the organization’s efforts to commemorate National Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month, Ricci will meet with key legislators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 25. She will advocate for critical funding designed to help solve rape cases and make our communities safer.
For example, Ricci will ask legislators to fund the Justice for All Act, which will help solve many rape cases through DNA evidence. Essentially, DNA is the high-tech version of fingerprints. Unfortunately, law enforcement is not using DNA to its full potential because of a backlog of evidence, currently stored in labs across the country. The Justice for All Act will help eliminate this backlog and solve as many as 57,000 open rape cases.
Ricci will also advocate for full funding for the Adam Walsh Act. There are 550,000 registered sex offenders nationally. 100,000 of these people are currently missing, having disappeared from the system. The Adam Walsh Act creates stricter requirements for sex offender registration, helping to prevent more perpetrators from slipping through the cracks.
“Christina Ricci not only lends star power to RAINN’s message, but she also has a deep understanding of the issue,” said Scott Berkowitz, president and founder of RAINN. “We are very grateful to have the opportunity to work with a celebrity as passionate about ending sexual assault as we are.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24/7 through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE.
About RAINN
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization and was named one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) in partnership with 1,102 local rape crisis centers across the country. The hotline has helped more than one million people since its start in 1994. RAINN is now piloting the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, the first secure web-based crisis hotline providing live and anonymous support. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. For more information about RAINN, please visit rainn.org.
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2000 L Street, NW
Suite 406
Washington, DC 20036
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE
P: 202.544.1034 •F: 202.544.3556
rainn.org