DURHAM, N.H. - The Prevention Innovations Research Center (PIRC) at the University of New Hampshire recognized the work of Kathy Beebe, executive director of HAVEN, the largest nonprofit agency in the state providing support services and prevention education to those impacted by domestic and sexual violence, with its first PIRC Practitioner Award.

The award recognizes individuals for their vision and leadership in ending gender-based violence, including sexual and relationship violence and stalking. It was established in 2015 to honor individual accomplishments, rather than the work of an organization.

"We are delighted to be able to make this inaugural award to someone of Kathy's stature," said PIRC co-directors Sharyn Potter and Jane Stapleton. "Her leadership has made a difference in the community where survivors know they will receive support as well as a response that will make it a safer place for them to live. Her work across 26 years demonstrates the best of what a domestic and sexual violence prevention leader can be. As researchers and practitioners, we sought to highlight and honor exactly that. We hope by shining a light on someone like Kathy that we encourage others to find their own path of making a difference for survivors, for communities, and as a result for all of us."

HAVEN is a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based, non-profit organization that provides support and services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence as well as comprehensive domestic and sexual violence prevention and education programs throughout the Portsmouth area for youth and adults.

The Prevention Innovations Research Center team is made up of researchers and practitioners who work collaboratively to develop and evaluate prevention strategies; evidence-based measures to document the problems of sexual and relationship violence and stalking; and comprehensive community tools to effectively address the causes of violence. Their work is nationally and internationally recognized for its contributions to the prevention of sexual and relationship violence and stalking, and research and prevention efforts emphasize the importance of using a community and bystander focus while examining the continuum of violence.

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Caption: Kathy Beebe (left), executive director of HAVEN, receives the first practitioner's award from UNH's Prevention Innovations Research Center (PIRC). Also pictured (l-r) are Jane Stapleton and Sharyn Potter, co-directors of PIRC, and Lyn Schollett, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.