(Lake County, IL) On Saturday, October 19, 2024, A Safe Place honored Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart with the 2024 Joyce Fitzgerald Award at the Unmask the Violence Gala. The award honors a unique individual whose ongoing leadership advances the mission of a A Safe Place, and whose dedication advances the rights of victims and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. 

During the ceremony, A Safe Place Board of Director President Judith Rosowicz highlighted Rinehart’s leadership in securing the funding for Lake County’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force and for increasing the number of prosecutors and victim counselors in the office over the last three years. As co-leaders of the task force, A Safe Place and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office are co-recipients of $1.5M from the U.S. Department of Justice. 

A Safe Place CEO Pat Davenport stated, “Eric has been a leader when it comes to the Human Trafficking Task Force and has been a wonderful partner. We are now able to connect with victims of domestic violence and provide direct services in the courtroom because of our partnership. We look forward to continuing working with his office to help survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.”  

During the presentation, State’s Attorney Rinehart stated that he was accepting the award on behalf of “the dozens of prosecutors, victim support professionals, and administrative staff within the Office who work tirelessly to help survivors of domestic violence.” Rinehart noted that “these amazing public servants take their work home with them as they work to help others, reduce trauma, and make us all safer.” 

Every year, the Unmask the Violence Gala brings together more than 300 supporters from across the Chicagoland area to bring awareness, help stop the spread of domestic violence in our communities and raise funds for vital programs and services for our most fragile families experiencing domestic violence.