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Date: 5/23/2022
MONSON – On June 11, the Carol Rivest Memorial Foundation will be having their eighth annual Carol Rivest Memorial Benefit from 12 p.m.- 7 p.m. at Westview Farms Creamery on 109 East Hill Rd. There will be a full day of raffles, local vendors and live entertainment from Raider Eddie and the Skeletones from 12-3 p.m. and Jeff Pitchell and the Texas Flood from 4-7 p.m. There will be food and ice cream to purchase from the creamery.
Director Sheila Rivest said, “Our goal is to raise $20,000. We want to make this event the biggest year and we want to make a change.”
The Carol Rivest Memorial Foundation brings awareness of domestic violence and raises funds to provide education and promote healthy and happy relationships. They provide funds for Alianza DV Services of Holyoke, Educational Resources for Children, Inc. in Enfield, CT, scholarships for Enfield High School students, Asnuntuck Community College’s Launch Your Leadership Journey and for local families when needed.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Over the course of one year, this equates to more than 10 million people.
“My vision was to always spread the word about domestic violence and helping others,” said Rivest. “I wanted to take away the stigma of domestic violence. Most people can say they’ve experienced it or had a friend who experienced it, but they do it in silence because of the stigma.”
On May 11, 1982, Rivest’s sister Carol was shot and killed at the age of 22 by her estranged boyfriend. “Our lives changed forever,” Rivest said. “My family and Carol’s son who was three years old at the time.” Carol was the middle child of five siblings. Rivest described her as a funny, compassionate, resilient, and loving person. “She was our protector and it’s really sad that she couldn’t protect herself,” Rivest added.
For years, Rivest said she didn’t know what to do with her anger and frustration. Eventually, Rivest turned it around and wanted to help others with the hope that they would not have to feel the pain of the loss of a loved one. Rivest first started off as a guest speaker at the Hampden County Correctional Facility in Ludlow. She spoke to inmates of the ripple effect on what one action can do to others and what it means for the rest of their family, for themselves and how they cannot take back that action. She decided to create the nonprofit to provide funds for other agencies that provide education and bring domestic violence awareness.
This year, the foundation’s focus is helping children. Rivest would like to start a school program and is looking for other foundations to partner with to teach children and adolescents about healthy relationships and how to cope when someone breaks up with them. She would also like to do a wellness retreat for domestic violence survivors who have nowhere to go.
“I’ve grown so much as a person throughout these eight years,” Rivest replied. “If I want people to act differently, I have to act differently as well.” She continued, “It’s hard to be grateful and happy, but once you set your mind to it, I want people to know they can live a happy life no matter what circumstances they are in to be able to change their direction. I can think about Carol knowing that her name and her story is making a difference.”
To learn more information about the Carol Rivest Memorial Foundation, visit carolrivestfoundation.org and follow them on Facebook.