Nick Coleman/Crime Victims Treatment Center
Avery Ragsdale, of Harlem, is holding a fund-raiser to benefit the Crime Victims Treatment Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, which he says helped him escape the lingering effects of childhood abuse.
Avery Ragsdale said hes not sure hed be alive if it wasnt for an uptown-based center to aid victims of abuse, and he wants to make sure others get the same help he did.
Ragsdale, 31, started going to the Crime Victims Treatment Center at St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital about three years ago, and he says it was just what he needed.
Ragsdale grew up with an abusive father, who once set the family home on fire, and he was also sexually abused by two close family friends. The years of torture led Ragsdale, he said, to abuse drugs, alcohol and he even resorted to prostitution.
He began suffering from panic attacks, and felt like hed hit rock bottom.
Thats until he was referred to the CVTC, where he received on-on-one treatment and participated in group therapy with other victims of abuse. All of the services are free.
Its changed my life...They helped me get in touch with the reason I was using, said Ragsdale, who lives in Harlem. I would not have survived... It would have led to something worse. I think I got really lucky. I dont know if Id even be alive.
Last year, the waiter and actor was inspired to spread awareness about the life-changing program. He and some pals planned to do a small cabaret-style fund-raiser to benefit victims of abuse.
The event, he said, was a huge success and raised $ 30,000 in unrestricted funds for the center.
Now, Ragsdale is once again spreading awareness for the center with his second benefit concert at 92YTribeca in SoHo on Monday.
Its a night where all the stars are coming together, he said.
The event, called The Bridge: Where Hope and Respect Come Together, will feature Broadway, film and TV stars. Broadway stars Chad Kimball of Memphis and Morgan James of Godspell are among the scheduled performers. Tickets are $ 90 and $ 125 for VIP.
I just want to be able to enable others to have the same services that I received, he said. These services are neccessary.. .they helped me get grounded and feel better about my life.
While raising money is one of the goals of the concert, Ragsdale said its not his main focus.
We want to bring awareness, he said. We want to get the word out. Everyone knows someone (who has suffered from abuse) . . . theres help out there. Im just a normal guy trying to make a big difference.
Program Director Susan Xenarios said the fund-raiser is needed to provide additional services that arent currently funded in the 35-year-old center.
The Crime Victims Treatment Center is housed at St. Lukes and has a satellite location at 114th St. in Harlem, but is funded through a number of groups, including the Office of Victim Services, the state Department of Health and the City Council, to name a few.
Last years fund-raising efforts were used to save peoples lives, Xenarios said.
She said the funds were used for holistic healing, relocating families in life-threatening situations and sending kids to camp.
This (fund-raiser) is critical for us in terms of our daily functioning, she said, adding they have over 150 volunteers at the center. We dont get enough money from our funders.
As for Ragdale, Xenarios said shes seen a whole transformation since he started coming to the center, and she applauded his initiative.
Hes an incredible person, she said. He has a great soul, and he believes in giving back, which is why hes doing this. Its such a gift for us.
For more information on tonights event, go to: http://www.thebridge-cvtc.org/
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