April 19, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Beaver County resident and Executive Director of the Women's Center of Beaver County, Jill Marsilio-Colonna, today was awarded the "Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy" from the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus in Washington, DC. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04), a member of the caucus, nominated Ms. Marsilio-Colonna for the award earlier this year.

"The Women's Center of Beaver County provides an invaluable service to western Pennsylvania," Congressman Altmire said. "Jill has been a strong advocate for the women and children of Beaver County for more than three decades, including the last 23 years through her work at the Women's Center. Both Jill and this organization are worthy recipients of this distinguished award, and, on behalf of the community, I want to thank Jill and the Women's Center for their excellent work."

"I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the Women's Center of Beaver County," said Jill Marsilio-Colonna. "This is recognition of the collaborative work done in Beaver County. We are inspired by the courage of the survivors of crime to look at ways to improve the system and the services in our community. I thank Congressman Altmire for his commitment to our cause and membership in the Victims' Rights Caucus."

Jill Marsilio-Colonna is a lifelong resident of Beaver County. She received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University and graduate degree from Carlow University in Pittsburgh. Before working at the Women's Center, Ms. Marsilio-Colonna worked for 11 years as a caseworker at at Beaver County Children and Youth Services. She has served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Ms. Marsilio-Colonna is also a founding member of the Beaver County Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force and Beaver County Housing Coalition.

The "Ed Stout Memorial Award for Outstanding Victim Advocacy" recognizes the work of individuals and organizations that enhance victims' services through program and policy development, increased public awareness, and partnerships between community and justice organizations.

The bipartisan Victims' Rights Caucus was formed in 2006 to be an advocate and voice for victims of all crimes. The mission of the Caucus is to elevate crime victim issues in Congress in a bipartisan manner, without infringing on the rights of the accused, and to represent and to advocate before the Administration and within Congress on behalf of crime victims. To view more information on the caucus, please click here.