Eighty domestic violence incidents are reported each day in Suffolk County, according to the Suffolk County Police department. The Eve Foundation is a local organization, based in Farmingdale, working to assist these victims of domestic violence and also to raise awareness.

Jay Eskin, chairperson of the Eve Foundation, created the foundation, "to do something positive; to counteract a never-ending nightmare." Jay Eskin named the foundation after his late daughter, Eve Eskin Brown. Eve disappeared on July 10, 1999 and 16 months later, her remains were found on the side of the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn. Her case is still open and unsolved. According to her father, Eve had a kind and generous nature. She was a marriage and family counselor, and went on to open her own organization called The Support Center, which provided assistance for battered women and children.

"That was her passion," Eskin said, "helping people deal with marital crisis, dealing with problems of children, so we thought we'd carry on her work."

The Eve Foundation has certainly lived up to its namesake. The foundation works to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence by directing them to places where they can seek help in full confidentiality. The organization works closely with both the Nassau and the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) and the YES Community Counseling Center. Recently the foundation provided CAPS with a grant to print pamphlets for their Steer Clear of Bullies campaign; CAPS is working to educate students and teachers about the effects of bullying and how to prevent it. The Eve Foundation works with the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence to provide a computer program for survivors of domestic violence. They teach the survivors pertinent computer skills, Eskin said, "to help them reclaim their lives and teach them the skills so that they can become productive members in society again."

The foundation also assists with younger victims of domestic violence. They work with the Victims Information Group by funding them with the money to provide an arts and craft program for the children affected by domestic violence.

Twice a year the foundation holds food drives at the Farmingdale Public Library. This summer they held Christmas in July to collect food; Santa of course, was present, dressed in shorts and surrounded by palm trees. This holiday season the foundation hopes to work with Farmingdale Public Schools' Key Club to collect turkeys for the hungry.

"There are so many families who aren't going to have a turkey," Eskin said; the foundation will work to make everyone's holiday a little better. This year around the time of the New York City Marathon, the foundation threw their First Annual New York Coach Potato Marathon. "We saved them the bother and hassle of running the marathon," Eskin said.

Instead of running 26.2 miles, marathon participants sent $26.20, and in return they received a certificate to hang above their couch stating that they completed the first annual coach potato marathon. This event raised $600 for the Eve Foundation.

Upcoming events include a holiday food and toy drive with locations at the Farmingdale Public Library, Dr. Shari Eskins' practice located at 707 Broadway in Massapequa, North Shore Allergy and Asthma Institute in Bellmore and the Coram Bowling Alley in Coram. The foundation's ongoing event is its' Speaker Bureau in which the foundation sends out speakers to organizations to educate people about domestic violence, free of charge. In December, eight families in Farmingdale will be throwing a block party with food, entertainment and, of course, Santa Claus. Though it may seem strange to be at a block party in the winter, heaters will be scattered about so you don't have to worry about being too cold. To participate in this party, you only need to bring a toy, which will be donated to the Eve Foundation for distribution.

The Eve Foundation is a growing foundation interested in branching out to other outside organizations. In the future, they hope to open their own safe house where victims of domestic violence can find temporary shelter confidentially. If you are interested in making a donation to the Eve Foundation or volunteering, call 888-888-6787. For more information regarding the holiday food and toy drop-offs, please refer to the foundation's website at www.evefoundation.com.

Domestic Violence Resources

The Eve Foundation

PO Box 208

Farmingdale, NY 11735

http://www.evefoundation.com

Nassau Coalition Against Domestic Violence

250 Fulton Avenue, Mezzanine West,

Hempstead, NY 11550

542-0404 (24 Hour Hotline)

www.dvguide.com/newyork/nassau.html

CAPS (Child Abuse Prevention Services)

PO Box 176

Roslyn, NY 11576

621-0552

http://www.kidsafe-caps.org

YES Community Counseling Center

30 Broadway

Massapequa, NY 11758

799-3203

http://www.yesccc.org