Welcome to our fourth edition of The Advocate! Summer is in full swing, and we’re thrilled to share updates, events, and opportunities from across our community.

This summer, we proudly welcomed our largest-ever internship class: 45 interns from 23 schools! Spread across seven departments, these bright minds brought fresh energy, and made a lasting impact across the agency.

In June, we celebrated the hard work and dedication of survivors graduating from Sanctuary's Office Operations Workshop. We’re grateful to the 46 volunteers who provided interview preparation support and helped empower participants as they took this important step forward. Learn more about our Economic Empowerment Programs here.

Summer Camp at Sarah Burke House, our transitional shelter, began July 9 and runs through August 22. There’s still time to sponsor a special outing for the kids — email us to learn how.

Sanctuary marched proudly in NYC’s Annual Pride Parade. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Whether celebrating milestones or making everyday moments easier, our supporters' in-kind donations made a real difference for our clients this summer.

• A Kit Building Event with Sony provided 120 graduation kits for Economic Empowerment Program graduates.
• Morgan Stanley volunteers created 40 summer kits with essentials for adult clients.
• Cosnova Inc. donated seven boxes of brand-new makeup and skincare.
• A high school student and founder of Skylar’s Suds donated 100 kits filled with personal care items and laundry detergent.

If your company or group is interested in supporting Sanctuary through a donation of goods or organizing a “Kit Building event”, please contact us at inkind@sffny.org.

Summer 2025 Intern Class

We’re proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of our passionate and talented interns who made a remarkable impact this summer.

Here's what some of them had to say:

“I’m especially grateful to be part of a strong team of women so deeply committed to justice and survivor empowerment. This hasn’t felt like just 'work' — it’s felt like real, individual change, which is exactly what I hoped to be part of.” Margaret Paik

“The care, commitment, and sense of community across the organization are truly unique, and it was incredibly powerful to see Sanctuary’s mission come to life during our visit to the Sarah Burke House.” Juliette Shlomm

“One especially meaningful moment was attending court with a client who finally received the legal protection she had been seeking for over a year. The relief and gratitude on her face was unforgettable.” Grace Davis

“The most powerful moments often occur when meeting with survivors at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in preparation for their clemency petitions. Despite everything they endured, they remained hopeful not just for their own future, but for the wellbeing of the other women currently incarcerated alongside them. Those conversations continue to ground me in the urgency and humanity of this work, which sits at the intersection of gender justice, carceral reform, and human rights advocacy.” Darci Siegel

We’re grateful to WilmerHale, JPMorgan Chase, Sony, and UBS for hosting Career Days for Sanctuary’s Career Readiness Training Program this spring.

Thank you to Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP for building Summer Camp Kits for the children at Sarah Burke House, and to volunteers from Scor who helped organize in-kind donations during their June 27 visit.

Upcoming and Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

• Translation Volunteers (flexible schedule): Help staff translate documents — multiple languages needed. Great for remote volunteers!
• Sponsor and Chaperone a Summer Outing: Join us in creating joyful summer memories for the children at Sarah Burke House.
• Interested in joining our Fall Internship Program? Apply today! You can find all open internship postings on our website's Volunteer page, under "Professional Internships".
• After School Program Volunteers (In-Person starting in September): Support kids at Sarah Burke House in the Bronx, Monday-Friday, 3:30-6:00 PM.
• Homework Lab Tutors (Fall, Remote): Assist school-aged children with homework and tutoring via Zoom
• Children’s Activity Room Volunteers (August 18th - 22nd): Help support our Children’s Activity Room for this engaging in-person opportunity
• Back-to-School Client Event Volunteers (Late August): Join us for fun games and help prepare kids for the school year at our Manhattan office.

Interested? Email us to learn more or sign up for any of these opportunities.

Join Sanctuary at the following celebrations:

• 28th Annual Abely Awards | September 29th - Join us to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our 2025 Abely honorees, Nadia Murad and Garrard R. Beeney. Learn more >
• 2025 Above & Beyond Awards | October 21st - Honoring members of the legal community who have gone above and beyond for survivors of gender violence. Get tickets >

Questions? Please contact us at volunteer@sffny.org.