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~ Our Mission ~

AWARE is committed to providing education, support and advocacy for all people in Mercer County  impacted domestic, emotional,  sexual violence, and elder abuse. We are helping the hurting to heal.

AWARE, Mercer County Center against Domestic and Sexual Violence is a victim services agency dedicated to eliminating domestic/sexual violence in Mercer County.

 AWARE Inc has served Mercer County since 1976, when a small group of committed women—professionals from Pennsylvania State University, Shenango campus, the Mental Health Association, and community volunteers—stirred to respond to the needs of rape victims. Influenced by the seminal work by Susan Brownmiller, Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape, the corp group of volunteers founded the Rape Crisis Center of Mercer County in December 1976.

By 1978, volunteers were responding to desperate calls from battered women. There were no shelters, safe homes, and no protection orders. By 1979, a loose network of safe homes was in place. Mercer Countians opened their homes, apartments, and farms to help house women and children fleeing violence at home. Over the 35 years of service to the community, AWARE has helped thousands impacted by domestic and sexual violence. We offer a broad menu of crisis, supporting, and residential services for adult and minor victims of domestic, emotional, elder, and sexual violence, as well as their supporting family and friends. Services are available for all victims in Mercer county at no cost, and are offered regardless of age, sex, race, creed, gender, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, class, economic status, physical ability, parental status, cultural background, or religion.

In long-term partnership with Community Action Partnership of Mercer County and the City of Sharon, AWARE offers emergency housing and transitional housing for victims of domestic violence. Our long term facility, the Shirley Bursey House, has provided safety and support for women and children since 1989. Beginning in 2010, AWARE operates the first pet shelter attached to a domestic violence facility in PA. PAWS (Pets and Women Shelter) allows the furry family members to seek safety with their victimized human family members to recover together.

In 2009, in partnership with First Baptist Church of Greenville, AWARE opened the Williams House of AWARE, a rural shelter for victims in northern Mercer County. This unique program represents another 1st–a partnership between a faith institution and a victim services agency in Pennsylvania.

In 2017, and with shared mission, AWARE continues to work with members of Center Presbyterian Church in Pine Township to open the Brandi Montgomery House, a longer-term housing program for women and children who live in the greater Grove City area, fleeing domestic violence.

AWARE works with our allies in law enforcement, health care, education, business and faith communities to share common cause eliminating the impact of domestic and sexual violence on the lives of women, children and families throughout Mercer County.

AWARE would not exist without the long-standing support and hard work of community members, staff, volunteers and interns, Board volunteers, past and present, and YOU for advancing this quixotic mission, ending domestic and sexual violence here in Mercer County. As you visit our site, please continue to support our on-going mission.

Our Board of Directors

President: Dave Leyde, Sharpsville

Vice President: Carol Crawford, Hermitage

Secretary: Mitchell McFeely, Grove City

Treasurer: Amy Burns, Hermitage 

Executive Director: Lizette Olsen

Kassandra Shawgo, Greenville
Leah Sizer, Sharon

 Katy Cowie-Igersheim, Greenville
Cassie Kovac, Hermitage 
Anna Myers, Hermitage

Every donation helps ensure someone is available to answer the most important call of a victim’s life.
Please give generousl and help us save lives.

Make a Donation

Upcoming Events

Apr
4
Thu
10:00 am Wellness & Benefits Fair @ Lutheran Heritage & Bistro Room
Wellness & Benefits Fair @ Lutheran Heritage & Bistro Room
Apr 4 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
An AWARE advocate will be attending Thiel College’s Wellness & Benefits Fair on April 4, 2024. The event is being held in the Lutheran Heritage and Bistro Room, located within the Howard Miller Student Center[...]
Apr
10
Wed
9:00 am Laurel Technical Institute Sprin... @ Laurel Technical Institute
Laurel Technical Institute Sprin... @ Laurel Technical Institute
Apr 10 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
A staff member with AWARE will be attending the Spring 2024 Job Fair at LTI on April 10, 2024. The job fair will take place from 9am until 11am.
Jun
21
Fri
all-day Office Closure @ AWARE, Inc
Office Closure @ AWARE, Inc
Jun 21 all-day
All AWARE, Inc. offices and locations will be closed on Friday, June 21st for staff meetings. If you have a crisis emergency and need to speak to an advocate, please call our 24/7 toll-free hotline[...]
Jul
9
Tue
10:00 am AWARE Outreach Event @ Prince of Peace
AWARE Outreach Event @ Prince of Peace
Jul 9 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join AWARE’s Youth Advocate Tasha as we host two sessions at the Prince of Peace Center in Farrell. The first hour (10AM-11AM) will be for those aged 13-18 as we watch and discuss the short[...]
Sep
20
Fri
all-day Office Closure @ AWARE, Inc
Office Closure @ AWARE, Inc
Sep 20 all-day
All AWARE, Inc. offices and locations will be closed on Friday, September 20th due to staff meetings. If you are in a crisis emergency and need to speak to an advocate, please call out 24/7[...]
Dec
20
Fri
all-day Office Closure @ AWARE, Inc
Office Closure @ AWARE, Inc
Dec 20 all-day
All AWARE, Inc. offices and locations will be closed on Friday, December 20th for staff meetings. If you are in a crisis emergency and need to speak to an advocate, please call our 24/7 toll-free[...]