Logan Brown, a sophomore at Free State High School, looks over some of the donations for a silent auction that will be part of the first "Shoppin' for Survivors" fundraiser for the GaDuGi SafeCenter in Lawrence. Brown organized the event which will be Saturday. She also serves on the board of directors at the safe center. by Richard Gwin

Those who know 15-year-old Logan Brown describe her as bright, creative and mature for her age.

“She’s amazing,” said Pam Lawrence, director of Victim Services at GaDuGi SafeCenter in Lawrence.

This summer, Brown, a sophomore at Free State High School, began volunteering at GaDuGi (pronounced gah-doo-ghee), which provides 24-hour services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence in Douglas and Jefferson counties. She wanted to help out at the safe center after seeing first-hand how much its services benefited those affected by sexual assault.

Brown meets them through her volunteer work in the District Attorney’s office. She said she often escorts the victims and their families to court.

“Every time there is a victim of any sexual assault, they (GaDuGi) will come to all of the court cases,” she said.

Brown has volunteered in the District Attorney’s office for three years.

“I wanted to be an attorney and so I just went in and introduced myself,” she said.

District Attorney Charles Branson said Brown does a variety of jobs. She files papers, researches restitution, types letters, assists senior citizens with completing consumer fraud applications and helps escort witnesses to court.

Branson said the office doesn’t typically have such young volunteers.

“She has been an exception,” he said. “She is very bright and inquisitive. She has a genuine fascination for trials and trial work.”

Brown said she wanted to become a prosecutor after watching the TV show “Law & Order.”

“It is a lot of different,” she said. “It’s not so fast paced and not everything works out perfectly all of the time. I think that is one of the biggest misconceptions.”

She’s also learned a lot about sexual violence and how frequently it occurs in our community. Last year, GaDuGi provided direct services for 176 people.

Brown said she’s learned it can happen to anyone — no matter age, race, income-level or gender.

“I don’t think most people will realize it until it happens to them or someone they love,” she said.

Brown began serving on the 15-member board of directors this summer and is glad to be part of the decision-making process.

“I get to see another aspect of how a nonprofit group works,” she said.

Brown also is helping the nonprofit agency raise money. This summer, she organized its first “Shoppin’ for Survivors” fundraiser, which will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Marriott SpringHill Suites in downtown Lawrence. She contacted businesses for donations, found the venue, negotiated prices and created flyers among other duties. Brown received help from Jakob Farrar and David Allen, both high school students in Lawrence.

“It’s meant a lot for us. I think every nonprofit in town is hurting because of the cutbacks in grant funding and the way the United Way of Douglas County has changed its funding,” Lawrence said. “Any little bit of money helps us keep the doors open.”

Lawrence said she’s been overwhelmed by the donations for the silent auction. She credits Brown for being creative and thinking to look outside of Lawrence. Among the items are Disney park passes, an autographed picture of retired NFL player Jerry Rice, passes to LegoLand in California and St. Louis Cardinals tickets.

The fund-raiser also will include food and live music. It’s open to the public and there is a suggested donation of $10.

The event is Brown’s first fundraiser and she’s hoping it’s a success.

“I’m hoping everyone comes out. It’s going to a lot of fun,” she said.

Logo by Red Designs. Uploaded by kbritt

SATURDAY NIGHT FUNDRAISER

"Shoppin' for Survivors" is a fundraiser for GaDuGi SafeCenter, a rape and sexual assault crisis center in Lawrence that serves Douglas and Jefferson counties.

The event will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in the Riverfront Mall.

The event includes food, live music and a silent auction. There are dozens of items up for bid including Disney park passes, autographed basketballs by the Kansas University men's and women's teams, St. Louis Cardinals tickets, and a Keurig coffee maker.

The event is free and open to the public. A $10 donation is suggested.

For more information, call 843-8985, or visit www.forsurvivors.webs.com.