The Willow was founded in 1976 by a group of women sitting around a kitchen table trying to find ways to help women leave abusive relationships. They created a network of safe places like private homes and businesses to hide women and children fleeing domestic violence. As the first domestic violence agency in Kansas, we have grown from a small group of volunteers to a staff of over 30. Today, we answer over 3,000 crisis and referral calls and provide adults and children with nearly 13,000 nights of safe rest and 14,647 individual services to our friends and neighbors in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties annually.
Our agency began as the Women's Transitional Care Center, but in 2010 changed its name to The Willow. The willow tree is one of the few trees that, if a branch is broken from it and then replanted, will grow into a new tree itself.
ABOUT
Our Story
Director of Human Resources
Felix Rodriguez he/him
frodriguez@willowdvcenter.org
(785) 331-2034 ext. 109
Director of Communications
Adrianne Nuñez she/her
communications@willowdvcenter.org
(785) 331-2034 ext. 105
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Assistant Director of Rural Services
Maggie Bornholdt she/her
mbornholdt@willowdvcenter.org
(785) 331-2034 ext 104
Shelter Lead Advocate and Family Program Coordinator
Vicki Pepperdine she/her
vpepperdine@willowdvcenter.org
(785) 865-3956
Leadership Team
The Willow Board
The Willow prides itself on community transparency regarding our finances, policies, and procedures. To be transparent and comply with the best accounting principles, we've formally written checks and balances into the organization's governing by-laws.
Our Finance Committee meets monthly to review The Willow's financials and provides a report at the Board of Directors meetings. Additionally, we employ an independent auditor commissioned by the finance committee. This committee conducts a full audit at the end of each fiscal year. The auditor then presents their results to the Board of Directors, prepares our annual 990 filing (signed by both the auditor and Executive Director), and submits it to the IRS.
We welcome any questions you may have regarding our financials, policies, and procedures or any other area in which you are interested or concerned.
Interested in serving on The Willow board? Find out more.
Torrez Dawson
Board President
Angela Motsinger
Board Vice President
Keith Jones
Board Treasurer
Brooklynne Mosley
Board Secretary
Christy Blanchard
Board Member
Sierra Two Bulls
Board Member
Jenny Lamb
Board Member
Emily Hartz
Board Member
Jessica Ruona
Board Member
Kristin Barkus
Board Member
Crystal Swearingen
Board Member
Our Guiding Principles
PRINCIPLES
The Willow practices trauma-informed care within all of our programs by understanding past trauma, working to avoid re-traumatization, and collaborating with survivors.
01
Trauma-Informed
The Willow is committed to healthy partnerships, prevention work, outreach, collaboration, and education.
02
Community
The Willow is committed to advocacy that is confidential, trauma-informed, low-barrier, and individualized.
03
Advocacy
The Willow works to empower survivors through peer support and respect, while honoring the dignity of those we serve.
04
Empowerment
The Willow supports the well-being of survivors and advocates via self-care, education, innovation, and research-based practices.
05
Support
Annual Report
LEARN MORE
