Honoring 25 Years of Sexual Assault Awareness Month
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Henderson House’s legacy extends a few decades further – we’ve been providing safety, resources, and championing survivors of sexual violence in Yamhill County for 45 years.
Despite the enormity of good and necessary work that we have accomplished these past 45 years, the causes of harm and the demand for survivor resources persist. We would like to spend this month, as we do each year, dedicating our communications efforts to spreading the word about the realities faced by survivors of sexual violence and inviting our community to show their support for Henderson House.
We want the message to reach every survivor in Yamhill County – you are not alone, you are believed, and we all hold power and responsibility to confront the causes of sexual violence.
In addition to engaging in our communications campaign, here are a few ways we invite you to show up for survivors this April:
Attend this year’s “WALK A MILE“ event | Saturday, April 18 @ 11am
Linfield University’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity is hosting their 11th annual “Walk A Mile” fundraiser to benefit Henderson House. Community members are welcome to come to the academic quad on campus and cheer on the Pikes as they walk a mile+ in heels, in honor of SAAM.
Participate in DENIM DAY | Wear your favorite denim jeans on Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Since 1999, Peace Over Violence has run an inspiring and powerful campaign to practice solidarity and support survivors by renewing our commitment to exposing harmful behaviors and attitudes surrounding sexual violence. Denim Day is recognized on the last Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court to overturn a rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped th e person who raped her remove them, thereby implying consent. Following the reversal, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
Inspired by this case and the activism surrounding it, Peace Over Violence and Executive Director Patti Giggans developed the Denim Day campaign in 1999. Since then, what started as a local event in Los Angeles to bring awareness to victim blaming and destructive myths that surround sexual violence has grown into a worldwide movement.
As the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses and students, and all individuals to make a social statement with their fashion statement by wearing jeans on Denim Day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that continue to surround sexual violence.
Become a Henderson House Monthly Donor!
Henderson House relies on the support of our community and monthly donors play a pivotal role in sustaining operations through reliable funding. To say thank you and to make sure you are able to join us for our annual Crown of Yamhill County fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 3rd @ 6pm at Gallery Theater, we are offering all Henderson House Monthly Donors of $10 (or more) one FREE ticket to this year’s event!
Tickets are on sale now for $50/each. Enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and the thrill of competition as a panel of judges and audience members determine which of our esteemed contestants will win the coveted honor of the Crown of Yamhill County 2026. This is an event you won’t want to miss!
