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About Porchlight Counseling
Porchlight Counseling Services is a counseling center for college survivors of sexual assault. Porchlight exists to help college sexual assault survivors achieve healing and wholeness and to create a world in which a person's life is not defined by the devastating experience of sexual assault.
Anne Bent launched Porchlight Counseling Services in 2004 upon realizing the alarming rates of sexual assault on college campuses. As a mother, Anne felt concerned for the safety and health of her own daughter who was away at college. Upon delving deeper into the issue, she learned that sixty percent of sexual assaults, appallingly, go unreported and that the psychological consequences survivors experience can last a lifetime. However, she found hope in the possibility of healing through counseling and other supportive services. Anne Bent conceived Porchlight’s mission with collaborative contributions from board members, rape crisis workers, community volunteers, rape survivors, college administrators and counseling staff.
Since its inception in 2004, Porchlight has seen incredible growth. Originally called Anne’s Home, Porchlight began modestly in a church basement with few clients. In 2006, Porchlight hired its first executive director and increased its outreach efforts to colleges and universities. In 2007, Anne's Home changed its name to Porchlight Counseling Services, which encapsulates feelings of safety, home, and support for our clients.
 
In 2008, Porchlight re-located to an office building in Evanston and tripled its caseload. Porchlight serves dozens of clients and reaches thousands of community each year through presentations, community fairs and educational outreach. Porchlight has formed collaborations with students from all over the city and its suburbs on over 25 campuses for fundraisers and internships. Yet, Porchlight remains a small organization depending on the efforts of dedicated volunteers. Throughout the past five years, Porchlight has been coordinated primarily by professional volunteers through AmeriCorps VISTA, along with a full-time executive director and a team of dedicated therapists who counsel clients from their private offices all over Chicagoland.
 
Porchlight recently learned of the wonderful work achieved through WomenOnCall.org volunteers, and Porchlight’s relationship with several volunteers has been exceedingly beneficial to this organization. As a volunteer grant-editor, Pat Brown, helped Porchlight to improve our grant language and write a proposal asking for funds to maintain our counseling services. Graphic designer, Lauren-Ashley Barnes, volunteered over the past few months to revamp and renew Porchlight’s newsletter and designed table settings for the annual benefit. Her work is beautiful and professional, and provides a stunning new look for Porchlight to display!
 About Pat Brown
Pat Brown has 20-plus years' experience working in a marketing and communications capacity for large, complex professional services organizations as well as public companies. Her past responsibilities have included managing marcom departments and supporting senior management with strategic and operational activities. With Porchlight, Pat volunteers as a grant editor, combining her past experiences and writing expertise. Porchlight wants to thank Pat for all her efforts!
 About Lauren-Ashley Barnes
Lauren worked with Porchlight Counseling Services to redesign the newsletter. After we sent out the redesigned newsletter, we immediately heard from readers that they loved the new look! We loved it, too. Lauren added creative touches that made Porchlight Counseling Services stories and photos stand out, making the final product easy to read and much more attractive. Lauren was professional, and she completed the work on time. Porchlight greatly appreciates Lauren's efforts to improve the newsletter!
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