Grants pay for Escape Alive classes

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Kathleen McPadden, vice president of human resources for Naugatuck Savings Bank and Jane Doe No More Board of Directors secretary, left with Executive Director of Jane Doe No More Debra Meyers. The Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation awarded Jane Doe No More a $4,000 grant. The grant, along with others, will pay for the organization to run Escape Alive Survival Skills classes free of charge this year. –CONTRIBUTED

NAUGATUCK — Thanks to a number of grants, Jane Doe No More will be offering free Escape Alive Survival Skills classes this year.

The Naugatuck-based Jane Doe No More is a national nonprofit organization working to improve the way society responds to victims of sexual assault, and to help women prevent and survive assault. Escape Alive Survival Skills classes for women and girls teach personal safety strategies and physical techniques designed to disable assailants and enable escape.

Among the grants the organization received was a $4,000 grant from the Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation.

“Our foundation has a long history of supporting organizations that make a difference in the quality of the lives of the people in the communities where we work and live,” said Kathleen McPadden, vice president of human resources for Naugatuck Savings Bank and Jane Doe No More Board of Directors secretary, in a statement. “It’s incumbent upon us as good corporate citizens to help support such a worthy program that provides women and girls with self-preservation techniques and strategies for escaping danger.”

Debra Meyers, executive director of Jane Doe No More, said the organization is thankful for the support.

“We are grateful for Naugatuck Savings Bank Foundation’s support and enthusiasm for this program,” said Meyers, in a statement. “By being able to implement a free ‘Escape Alive’ program, we can make this program available to a much broader range of participants.”

Jane Doe No More also received a $7,000 grant from the Petit Family Foundation along with grants from Watertown’s Main Street Financial Group and Sikorsky Aircraft,

Jane Doe No More plans to hold 15 separate Escape Alive classes in 2013, including four during April to recognize National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To host a class, contact Debbie@janedoenomore.org, or call 203-729-0245. To participate in a class, register online at www.janedoenomore.org.