FIRST LADY KATIE O’MALLEY TO JOIN YWCA FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS EVENT

ANNAPOLIS, MD First Lady Katie O’Malley and Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention Kristen Mahoney will join the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Following the ceremony at Government House, the YWCA will hold its 92^nd annual meeting on Lawyer’s Mall with a candle lit remembrance of victims lost to domestic violence, and a peace walk through downtown Annapolis.

The YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural women's organization in the world. Across the globe, it has more than 25 million members in 106 countries, including 2.6 million members and participants in 300 local associations in the United States. YWCA’s mission is to eliminate racism and empower women, providing safe places for women and girls, building strong women leaders, and advocating for women's rights and civil rights in Congress.

Judge O’Malley recently received the Forerunner Award from the Montgomery County Family Justice Center Foundation for a steadfast advocate for the rights of victims of domestic violence. For years, she has served in the fight to end domestic violence by educating victims and abusers, communities and families about the effects of such abuse. In Maryland, Judge O’Malley joined Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown to support and successfully pass legislation to remove firearms from the hands of domestic abusers. She continues to visit public and private schools, colleges and universities, and organizations around the state to promote domestic violence awareness for all families and children.