On Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, the Columbia County Performing Arts Center will host SafeHomes of Augusta’s seventh annual lip sync challenge fundraiser.
SafeHomes is a state organization that offers free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence. The program seeks to end domestic violence through advocacy, awareness and education.
As one of Georgia’s 46 state-certified domestic violence centers, SafeHomes’ services are available to several counties, including Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren and Wilkes.
According to SafeHomes, nearly 97% of clients who are served in their shelters have secure, safe and affordable housing upon their exit from the program, and over 2,000 people receive outreach support every year. Jennifer Frantom, SafeHomes developmental director, said this support includes legal advocacy, certified counseling, support groups, therapeutic groups and life skills.
In addition to providing parent classes or childcare for families in need, Frantom said the counseling groups and classes also span different age groups.
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“We also have a big training program because we know that domestic violence is only going to stop when families can break the cycle,” she said.
The organization will also help victims recover financially with temporary monetary assistance because Frantom said oftentimes getting away from a domestic violence situation is not simple, and it can be very costly.
“Just from a financial standpoint, there are court costs, medical costs and legal costs,” she said. “There’s all kinds of things associated with it.”
Training with law enforcement, the medical community and several other businesses, Frantom said the program tries to teach how domestic violence affects and touches all aspects of a community – which is why SafeHomes’ mission should be supported.
“It doesn’t stay within the home. It really impacts every aspect,” she said. “Without services like SafeHomes, without people being there to support the cause and getting involved with volunteering and donating, that cycle is just going to continue within the generations.”
Frantom said research shows women, who witnessed or suffered from domestic violence at a young age, are more likely to become victims, while men are more likely to become aggressors. Through classes with children who were exposed to domestic violence, Frantom said they actively seek to break the cycle at an early age to prevent future victims.
Since 2016, the organization’s lip sync contest, Fake It to Make It, has raised over $1 million which has safeguarded SafeHomes mission of changing victims of domestic violence into strong survivors. For the January show, the goal is to raise at least $220,000.
According to SafeHomes, the show sells out every year and was even awarded the best fundraising event by Augusta Magazine buyers.
“It’s our fundraising and our community support that really bridges the gap so that we can do all that we do,” said Frantom. “We wanted to do something that was unique, and something that hadn’t been done before … something outside of the box that could reach a wide audience.”
Fighting against societal stigma of talking about domestic violence, Frantom added how a lip sync battle made the serious topic more light-hearted, which helped spread the word about the organization’s services.
“The bigger we get every year, it’s more people exposed to our mission,” she said. “And it’s so fun to see how much talent is in our community and has been part of the show … the people who have been in our show have really taken it to a whole different level than we could have ever imagined.”
The upcoming show will feature seven teams competing for the prized championship belt for the title of Top Fundraiser, Judges Choice or People’s Choice. The show will open with previous winner, Chris Ewart, and will also feature local acts from Ballroom in Motion, North Augusta School of Dance and Free Movement Dance Studio.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Ewart “They have backup dancers and costumes. [Performers] try to interact with the crowd and do something funny that’s related to the lyrics of the song.”
After putting in months of hard work and time into perfecting the performance, Ewart said he feels the money a team raised and the laughter they caused makes it worth it in the end.
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“I think that’s where all the value is,” he said. “It made me feel great and want to do it again. A lot of people want to do it again.”
Donors can support a specific team with donations and can purchase tickets to the event online. Competing teams include members from Nothing Bundt Cakes, LEP Contracting LLC, Plant Vogtle, Movement Mortgage and a few others.
Following the performances, Ewart said he has often heard audiences say that it was the funniest and most entertaining thing they had seen for a while.
“Our teams are working hard to raise money and to put on a good show. They always try to one-up the year before, and wow the audience because we have three belts they’re competing for,” said Frantom. “You definitely have to have a good sense … they’re very competitive and in turn it makes for a really good show.”
To donate to SafeHomes or purchase tickets, visit: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0E005D4DCB433F2F or go to https://p2p.onecause.com/fitmi2023/donate?challenge=fake-it-to-make-it-2023&charity=safe-homes-of-augusta-inc
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
