What is Crisis Center North (CCN)?

Crisis Center North is a non-profit organization with the mission to empower victims of domestic violence and cultivate community attitudes and behaviors to break the cycle of violence. To achieve this mission, CCN provides counseling and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence, as well as community and school based prevention programs in Allegheny County. All of these services are provided free of charge: Generous donations and support of community members, groups, businesses, and foundations make this possible.

How Can I Help?

You have come to the right place! Join our Marathon Team here, or for other opportunities to volunteer or donate visit our website.

This year, Crisis Center North is a contributing charity for The Pittsburgh Marathon! If you are participating in any of the marathon’s events on the weekend of May 5-6 and would like to “Run For A Reason”, we invite you to join us on our marathon team. As a contributing charity runner, you will have the opportunity to help fundraise for Crisis Center North. There is not a minimum fundraising requirement, so ANY amount that you are able to fundraise would greatly help CCN!

The Pittsburgh Marathon offers something for everyone! On May 5, there is a Toddler Trot, Kids Marathon, Pet Walk, and 5k race. On May 6, the Marathon, Half Marathon, and Marathon relay is held. Please consider participating in The 2018 Pittsburgh Marathon and supporting Crisis Center North!

To join our team, simply sign up at this link: https://www.crowdrise.com/crisis-center-north-2018-pittsburgh-marathon

If you are not participating in this year’s marathon events, but would still like to help CCN, there is still a way! We are also looking for volunteers to work a volunteer station during the marathon weekend, May 4-6. If you are interested please contact us at 412-364-5556 or echarles@crisiscenternorth.org

Note to Race Participants: Race entries are not included and must be purchased separately from fundraising. Click here to purchase.

What is the impact of CCN's services in the community?

Though we have number and statistics to share, the best way to describe the impact of our services is to look at our client's stories. Note: Names and certain details have been changed for confidentiality.

Olivia's Story

After leaving her abusive relationship to find a better life for her and her two young children, Olivia came to Crisis Center North to seek counseling services for herself and them. After what she had been through, Olivia realized that she “didn’t know what normal was.” She was so used to a relationship full of abuse that she did not know what a healthy relationship looked like anymore.

“Eventually I just asked my counselor, ‘tell me if this is normal,’ and I told her of my experiences. She told me what happened to me was not a normal part of a relationship, and I realized that I was just so used to it that I didn’t realize what it was doing to me. It is like the story of boiling a frog. If a frog is thrown into boiling water it will jump out, but if the temperature of the water slowly rises to a boiling point with the frog inside, then the frog won’t realize that it is dying,” said Olivia.

Though Olivia was making headway towards emotional healing in her counseling sessions, she never brought up another concern she was having: Economic hardship. After leaving her husband, Olivia was struggling to make ends meet, especially as Christmas was approaching. For weeks she had been trying to get what she could for her children by stopping at discount stories and their clearance sections, but she knew she would be unable to give her children the Christmas that she wanted them to have.

Olivia was invited to a “Moms only” Christmas party at the Center, and after some debate, she decided to go. “When I arrived, I was in shock. The Center’s staff had bags and bags of toys for my children. They had everything that had been on my son and daughter’s list to Santa that I couldn’t get. Throughout my sessions leading up to Christmas, the staff had been asking strategic questions of me and my children to find out what we needed without us catching on, and then there it was. I was humbled and overwhelmed, and even after all these years later, I am brought to tears when I think about the Center recognizing I had a need that I wasn’t willing to talk about and deciding to make a difference,” said Olivia.

Though the gifts for her children meant a lot, the most meaningful part of the gesture went well beyond the material items, said Olivia. What meant so much was that people cared so much to give her and her children something special. This story happened when Olivia’s children were pre-school age.

Today they are teenagers. Olivia has never forgotten the role CCN played in her recovery from abuse, and today she is happily re-married and has the positive, loving relationship she deserves.

“Crisis Center North left a mark on my life, not a scar,” said Olivia.

Alicia's Story

Alicia was continually victimized by her husband, was constantly seeking one Protection From Abuse Order after another and receiving them; however she would let them drop after their 7-10 day period. She was unable to leave her situation due to financial and family responsibilities. Her husband would apologize and win his way back into the home, leaving the victim in a perpetual state of hope that the situation would indeed improve as he continued to promise after each violent incident.

Finally, after a particularly violent episode, the police responded to her home and informed her of the opportunity to receive an emergency PFA at her nearby hospital. There she met a CCN advocate. Alicia and the advocate were able to discuss at length her situation and the resources available to help her in the long term (i.e. financial assistance, relocation, and adult and child counseling). After that conversation, Alicia viewed her situation in a much different way: She saw hope. Alicia had been unaware of the extent of services available to her. She began receiving counseling services from CCN, and she learned how the cycle of violence applied to her situation. Eventually, she and her children were able to leave her abusive husband and live in safety.

And many more... this is the impact CCN makes in our community and in the lives of our clients.

Crisis Center North, Inc.

Empowering Victims, Breaking the Cycle of Violence

Fundraising Campaigns

Crisis Center North - Purple Purse Challenge 2018

Crisis Center North - 2018 Pittsburgh Marathon

Crisis Center North