THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO. Geri Segal, pictured, led the local Family Support Center for more than half of the nonprofit's 44-year history. While Segal will eventually retire from her executive director position, she continues to serve in a part-time outreach role. (Submitted photo)

Geri Segal led the Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire Family Support Center (FSC) for 28 years – more than half of the FSC’s existence – before announcing her retirement this past June.

On Oct. 13, those decades of effort which led to an undeniable impact in the Chippewa Valley and beyond, will be honored in Madison. At the state capital building, Segal will receive the Patricia J. Washbisch Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement.

This will be just the twelfth time the award – created in memory of Patricia “Trish” Waschbisch, a longtime legal advocate in Wisconsin who lost her life in 2013 due to domestic violence – has been given by the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse.

“In the 28 years that Geri has directed (FSC), thousands of survivors of violence have walked through our doors and received hundreds of thousands of services,” Jeni Haddad, the current FSC executive director, said. “Thousands of lives have been altered and changed in some way. … from having a safe place to come to, a kind voice on the phone to call, a hand to hold in some of the hardest moments in their lives.

“Geri is responsible for creating, maintaining and supporting the space to do this.”

Haddad shares those sentiments with firsthand knowledge, having stepped into the executive director role after a dozen-plus years as a staff member there under Segal’s leadership.

“When you see the impact our programs have, it is inspiring.”

GERI SEGAL

FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER

Supporting children and adults who endure serious trauma from domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse and human trafficking is heavy. Yet, the potential to make a difference in those individuals’ lives is more than enough reason to do that work, Segal said.

“When you see the impact our programs have, it is inspiring,” Segal shared. “It is also incredibly satisfying to be a part of people’s healing and growth, to help facilitate that through the programs we provide and to be part of preventing violence.”

The list of FSC’s programs, facilities and accomplishments is long, many of which came to fruition under Segal’s leadership. Haddad and Resource Development Administrator Xander Bobolz named just a few:

From January to August of this year the FSC has served 700 people through its domestic violence and sexual assault programs. Another 101 have partaken in the nonprofit's parenting education opportunities.

The creation of the Center for Awareness of Sexual Assault, which has an on-campus location at UW-Eau Claire and another in downtown Eau Claire (306 S. Barstow St.); implementation of the Rapid Re-Housing program, the only housing program in Chippewa County specifically for survivors of violence; providing long-term violence prevention programs to local schools in collaboration with those districts; and the launch of FSC’s current capital campaign, working toward ownership of the nonprofit’s main office building to increase overall sustainability.

“In Geri’s 28-year tenure, people have walked through our doors for assistance over 40,000 times,” Haddad and Bobolz said.

From January to August of this year, the FSC has served 700 people through its domestic violence and sexual assault programs. Another 101 have partaken in the nonprofit’s parenting education opportunities.

While she announced her retirement earlier this year, Segal continues to serve the FSC through a part-time outreach role.

Learn more about the Family Support Center (403 N. High St., Chippewa Falls) and its services online at www.familysupportcentercf.org. To contribute to the FSC's ongoing Sustaining Hope capital campaign, visit www.familysupportcentercf.org/sustaininghope.