Thank you.
We recently spoke with Molly Snyder, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Sanctuary Board member, and dedicated supporter of Sanctuary’s Camp HOPE NYC — a transformative weeklong summer camp for teens impacted by gender-based violence. In her work as an LCSW in private practice and as a Clinical Supervisor at the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, Molly specializes in supporting women through life transitions, with deep expertise in treating trauma, anxiety, and depression. Her collaborative and curious approach helps her clients build self-understanding and create a clear, authentic vision for their future.
Tell us a little bit about yourself — what is your background?
I grew up in San Diego, California. My mom was a professional in the Jewish community and my dad was a pediatrician. They both prioritized community involvement and activism. Specifically, my mom was focused on the importance of women being financially independent, which influenced my decision to go to business school and start my career in finance. I received my undergraduate business degree from the University of Michigan and started my career at Goldman Sachs in investment banking soon after. I then went back to receive my MBA from Columbia Business School and after graduation, joined an organization in lower Manhattan that helped businesses recover in the wake of 9/11. When my kids were in elementary school, I was excited to make a career change and got my Masters in Social Work from Columbia University.
What first drew you to Sanctuary, and what was it about the organization that made you want to get involved?
I started with Sanctuary over 10 years ago as a clinical intern during my time at Columbia School of Social Work. I loved my experience at Sanctuary and was inspired by the passion and professionalism of everyone across the organization. I also witnessed Sanctuary’s deep investment in the professional development of their interns and staff and the resulting impact that these efforts had on client care.
“There is a sense of passion and care at all levels of Sanctuary — from the Board to the staff, with an unparalleled commitment to clients.”
How did you first learn about Camp HOPE, and what about Camp HOPE resonates with you?
I came to Sanctuary because I wanted to be more thoughtful about giving to causes that I care about, and given my history with Sanctuary, it was an obvious choice. It’s a privilege to see an organization from the inside and know that the work that they’re doing is of the highest quality. I was shown a few different options to support and I’ve always been a lover of camp, so Camp HOPE caught my attention right away.
For Camp Hope teens, I imagine that camp is literally and figuratively a breath of fresh air, giving them a chance to explore their interests, develop lasting friendships and connect with nature. Because of their life experiences, their nervous systems are likely on high alert most of the time, which can make it challenging to connect to others, to connect with themselves, and to just be a kid. I can’t think of a better place to decompress than in nature, in a supportive, safe environment where they can simply have fun.
What do you believe is the most important message for potential donors to understand?
There is a sense of passion and care at all levels of Sanctuary — from the Board to the staff — with an unparalleled commitment to clients, ensuring that their needs are always the priority. Services are tailored to the individual circumstances and preferences of each client and much effort is dedicated to understanding the clients’ unique experience and their vision for themselves and their families. Sanctuary staff does a great job helping clients identify the pathway to reach their goals and provides the services and resources needed to support them along the way.
I also love Sanctuary’s holistic model, which includes shelter, clinical services, legal support, economic empowerment, and advocacy because each component is interconnected. For example, if you have a job and you’re constantly triggered from past trauma at work, you may have a hard time being productive or effective with assignments. Or if you don’t have a restraining order and you’re not feeling safe, it’s going to be difficult to work or to take care of your kids. I love that all the pieces are in place to address the multitude of challenges that clients face, in order to set them up for success. It’s really an honor to be on the Board and to be able to be engaged with such an exceptional organization.
What would you say to someone who is considering funding our work? What makes it worth their investment?
Knowing that your dollars are truly impacting change — on individuals, families, communities, and the systems our clients are forced to contend with — makes all the difference. Sanctuary provides a comprehensive model of high-quality services, ensuring the opportunity for clients to attain safety and stability for their themselves and their families. I think it’s important that funders know for certain that their dollars are directly impacting change.
Celebrate #GivingTuesday with a tax-deductible gift to Sanctuary — all gifts will be matched up to $75,000!
Giving Tuesday is just around the corner!
As we approach Giving Tuesday, a day dedicated to the spirit of generosity and philanthropy, we invite you to join us in making a powerful impact on the lives of survivors of gender violence and their families.
We know many other causes are vying for your attention this time of year. Still, we hope you’ll think of Sanctuary’s clients on December 3rd — the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
Thanks to a generous group of anonymous Sanctuary Board members, all gifts made to our #GivingTuesday campaign will be matched up to $75,000! You can get a head start on Giving Tuesday by donating today, knowing that your gift will have double the impact for survivors
Take Action on Social Media
If you’d like to increase your impact, you can create a Facebook fundraiser to get your friends and family involved in our mission to end gender-based violence. It’s an easy and effective way to get the word out about our work.
You can make an incredible difference with just a few minutes’ work.
- Click here to create your own Facebook fundraiser.
- Click ‘Select Nonprofit’ and search for Sanctuary for Families. You’ll know it’s us by our logo!
- Set your goal and tell your friends why you’re supporting Sanctuary or why supporting survivors is important to you.
- Start sharing your fundraiser Monday evening and all through the end of the day on Tuesday!
100% of donations made through Facebook go to the nonprofit organization; which means every dollar goes to our cause.
Create an Instagram Nonprofit Fundraiser:
Instagram fundraisers can be attached to video, carousel, and image posts on the feed. The fundraiser will be visible in the post and will be active for 30 days, which can be extended at any time. A link to an active fundraiser will also be added to your profile bio. ACCESS OUR GRAPHICS >
- On your profile, tap the Create icon (“+”) in the top right.
- Select Fundraiser.
- Enter Sanctuary for Families (@sffny) and select it from the menu.
- Add details in the Fundraiser Details page, tap Add, and tap Share.
Invite others to join an Instagram Group Fundraiser:
- Once you’ve created your fundraiser, tap Share.
- Tap Invite Collaborators.
- Invite the account(s) you would like to join the fundraiser.
- Once the invitees accept, their usernames show in the fundraiser. The fundraiser is also added to their profile.
Fundraise on Instagram Stories Using a Donation Sticker
- Open the camera and upload one of our graphics, or your own photo.
- Tap the sticker icon.
- Select the Donation sticker from the tray.
- Search for and select Sanctuary for Families (@sffny).
- Customize your fundraiser using Stories creative tools.
- Tap Send To, then tap Share next to Your Story.
- You can add multiple images or videos to build your fundraising story.
Prefer X (Twitter) or LinkedIn to Facebook or Instagram?
- Add our donation link to your bio.
- When you post, drive your followers to the link in your bio
Have questions?
Direct message us on any of our social media accounts or email communications@sffny.org.
Thank you for supporting Sanctuary for Families. We are dedicated to the safety, healing, and self-determination of victims of domestic violence and related forms of gender violence. Through comprehensive services for our clients and their children, and through outreach, education, and advocacy, we strive to create a world in which freedom from gender violence is a human right.
For nearly two years, a Texas man named Marcus Silva has been suing his ex-wife’s friends for helping her get an abortion. Earlier this month, Silva finally dropped his wrongful death and conspiracy claims. The friends responded by pointing out that he had known about the abortion before it happened but took no action. Instead, with a potential divorce looming, he threatened to use evidence of the abortion against his wife “if she refused to stay under his control.” The case is just one example of how reproductive rights can become entangled in the dynamics of coercion and control within intimate relationships.
Restrictions on reproductive healthcare are highly dangerous. Recently, such laws have been linked to the tragic deaths of two women in Georgia – Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller – as well as to the near-deaths of countless women around the country. Amber Nicole Thurman died from septic shock after being denied treatment for 20 hours following a rare pregnancy complication. Georgia’s restrictive laws also made Candi Miller too afraid to seek medical care after self-managing her medically necessary abortion. These devastating outcomes are not isolated incidents. Between 2006 and 2022, Pregnancy Justice documented nearly 1,400 cases of pregnancy-related criminalization across the U.S. The report found state actors —police, prosecutors, healthcare workers, family regulation workers, and judges — have deprived pregnant women of virtually every constitutional right in the name of protecting “unborn life.”
New York currently serves as a refuge for people from other states in desperate need of reproductive healthcare. But our status as a “haven state” is by no means guaranteed in the future. Political winds can– and do – change. New Yorkers – including domestic violence survivors – deserve to have these critical protections enshrined in the state’s constitution.
As we approach Election Day, I encourage all New Yorkers to familiarize themselves with Proposition 1, also known as Prop 1 or the New York State Equal Rights Amendment. Prop 1 will amend New York’s constitution to protect New Yorkers against government discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
Importantly, Prop 1 will protect an individual’s autonomy to make choices about their own life, free from the threat of criminalization or penalties. For victims of domestic violence, Prop 1 protections would ensure reproductive healthcare remains accessible — including abortions, birth control, and Plan B — whether after sexual assault, during physical abuse in pregnancy, or when trying to escape an abusive relationship.
Access to reproductive healthcare empowers survivors of gender-based violence to make choices that prioritize their safety. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, one in six women in abusive relationships in the United States are first abused during pregnancy. In abusive relationships, pregnancy can be a death sentence – homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant women in the United States. A forced pregnancy can tether a victim to their abuser, both financially and legally. At Sanctuary for Families, we see every day how sharing a child gives abusers countless ways to continue coercing and controlling survivors, even after the survivor has escaped the relationship. As Marcus Silva’s lawsuit in Texas demonstrates, the absence of legal protections allows abusers to weaponize the courts to threaten and control victims simply for accessing reproductive healthcare. For victims of domestic violence, the cruelty of abortion bans and restrictions on reproductive healthcare access is undeniable.
Prop 1 will protect New Yorkers and anyone subject to its laws from efforts to penalize and control people for their reproductive choices and pregnancy outcomes, including abortions and miscarriage. We cannot afford to take our rights for granted while so many of our fellow Americans are being stripped of theirs. Please be sure to flip your ballot and vote ‘Yes’ on Prop 1.
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Judy Harris Kluger is a former New York State judge and the current CEO of Sanctuary for Families, New York’s leading advocate and service provider for survivors of gender violence.
Each October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), we reflect on the countless lives impacted by intimate partner violence and reaffirm our commitment to ending this crisis. This year, Sanctuary for Families is turning our focus toward femicide — a critical but often overlooked consequence of domestic violence.
1. What is Femicide?
2. The Prevalence of Femicide in the U.S.
3. What Should People Know about Femicide?
4. How You Can Help
What is Femicide?
Femicide is the murder of women and girls because of their gender. It is the most extreme and tragic outcome of domestic abuse, rooted in misogyny and gender-based violence. Unlike other forms of homicide, femicide is not just about one person killing another—it is about power, control, and the systemic devaluation of women’s lives. In the context of domestic violence, femicide is often the culmination of years of abuse, manipulation, and coercive control.
The Prevalence of Femicide in the U.S.
Femicide is a global crisis, but it is very much a silent epidemic in the United States. According to Women Count USA, 1,104 American women and girls were lost to femicide in 2023. As of October 17 of this year, 607 women have allegedly been killed because of their gender. In many cases, the warning signs are clear: the victim has been stalked, threatened, or previously abused, yet interventions fail to prevent these lethal outcomes.
So far in 2024, more than 600 women and girls have allegedly been murdered in the United States because of their gender.
As with so many other forms of violence, women of color are disproportionately affected by femicide. Compared to white women, Black women are nearly three times as likely to be killed by an intimate partner. For Indigenous women and girls, the rate of homicide is 6.4 times higher than that of their white counterparts.
The widespread presence of guns in the United States significantly increases the lethality of domestic violence and contributes to the alarming rates of femicide. According to the GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, women in the U.S. are 21 times more likely to be killed with a gun than women in other high-income countries, making firearms a central factor in many femicides. Furthermore, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that abusers with access to firearms are 5 times more likely to kill their partners. The prevalence of guns, combined with systemic failures to protect survivors, turns abusive relationships into deadly situations far too often.
Women are 5X more likely to be killed if their abuser has access to a gun.
Despite the alarming rates, femicide remains underreported and underacknowledged across the United States. Many murders of women, particularly those from marginalized communities, are not properly investigated and perpetrators are not always held accountable.
What Should People Know About Femicide?
Understanding femicide requires acknowledging the systemic nature of gender-based violence. This is not an isolated issue—it is deeply embedded in our culture and the way we view violence against women.
To combat femicide, we must:
1. Recognize the signs of escalating violence.
Many femicides are preventable when we recognize the warning signs. Perpetrators often exhibit patterns of behavior—such as stalking, controlling actions, obsessive jealousy, isolation, and threats—that signal increasing danger. These behaviors should never be dismissed as mere “relationship problems” but seen as red flags that could lead to lethal violence.
Listening to survivors and taking their concerns seriously is critical. Too often, threats are minimized, leaving women unprotected. Intervention at the first sign of danger—whether by law enforcement, friends, or family—can make all the difference. Providing survivors with the resources and support they need, including access to services like those offered by Sanctuary for Families, empowers them to escape abusive situations before they escalate.
2. Demand accountability from law enforcement and the justice system.
Too often, restraining orders and protective measures fail to prevent femicides. Law enforcement must be trained to recognize and act swiftly in cases where women are at risk. All too often, warning signs like threats and stalking are ignored, leaving survivors vulnerable.
We need stronger accountability from law enforcement and the justice system. Officers and prosecutors must treat these cases with the urgency they deserve, ensuring protective orders are enforced and abusers face serious consequences. Additionally, better data collection on femicide cases will help hold these institutions accountable and prevent further tragedies.
3. Fight against the culture of silence.
A major barrier to addressing femicide is the stigma and silence around intimate partner violence. Many survivors hesitate to come forward due to fear or shame, and society’s avoidance of these issues allows the violence to persist. Breaking this silence is essential—whether by speaking up, supporting organizations like Sanctuary for Families, or advocating for stronger legal protections.
By raising awareness and challenging harmful cultural norms, we can shift the way society responds to intimate partner violence. When we speak out and stand with survivors, we take an active role in preventing future violence and holding abusers accountable.
How Can You Help Fight Femicide?
The fight against femicide requires all of us to act. Here are some ways you can make a difference:
Support legislation that protects survivors
Reproductive rights and gun control are critical to preventing femicide. Access to reproductive healthcare, including safe and legal abortion, is essential for survivors of intimate partner violence, who are often subjected to coercion and control over their reproductive choices. Restricting access to reproductive care leaves women more vulnerable to abuse and violence.
In addition, stronger gun control laws are essential to protecting survivors of domestic violence. Over half of all femicides perpetrated by abusive partners are committed with guns. Laws that limit access to firearms for abusers, such as universal background checks and prohibitions on gun ownership for those convicted of domestic violence, can save lives. Advocating for these reforms is key to reducing the threat of femicide and ensuring the safety and autonomy of survivors.
Donate to Sanctuary for Families
Our programs provide critical support to adult and child survivors of domestic violence. Your donation helps us provide emergency shelter, legal representation, counseling, and economic empowerment to families fleeing abuse.
Raise Awareness
Use your voice to educate others about femicide and domestic violence. Whether through social media, community events, or conversations with friends and family, every bit of awareness helps shift the culture and save lives.
We Must Act Now
As we honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we must remember that awareness alone is not enough. Femicide is preventable, but it requires concerted action from all of us—from lawmakers to law enforcement, from communities to individuals. Together, we can work toward a world where women no longer live in fear and where their lives are fully valued.
Join us this October in raising awareness about femicide and standing in solidarity with survivors.