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CAPSA’s Annual Wine Pairing: A Night of Fine Dining, Community, and Tribute

Every fall, community members gather for one of CAPSA’s most anticipated events of the year: the Annual Wine Pairing Dinner. Held at the beautiful Logan Country Club, the evening is more than a celebration of fine food and wine. It is a celebration of community, compassion, and the collective effort to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Cache Valley.

This year’s event carries a special meaning. We are dedicating this year’s Wine Pairing to the memory of Mike Parent, a beloved friend of CAPSA and an enthusiastic supporter of this very event. Mike’s passion for winemaking was matched only by his generosity. For nearly twenty years, he bottled his private cabernet sauvignon, crafted from grapes grown at a family friend’s vineyard in California’s Alexander Valley. Each fall, his family would gather from across the country to help with the bottling, turning it into a cherished tradition. Mike donated much of his wine to charitable causes, including CAPSA, where it helped raise thousands of dollars to support survivors.

Tragically, Mike passed away this past July. While his presence will be deeply missed, his spirit, generosity, and love for both wine and community will be felt throughout this year’s pairing. Hosting this event in his honor is both a tribute and a reminder of the power of individuals who choose to make a difference in their community.

A Tradition of Excellence

CAPSA’s Wine Pairing has become a cherished annual tradition for the organization, bringing together community members, businesses, and advocates to raise critical funds for our mission. Each year, thousands of dollars are raised to support CAPSA’s life-saving services, which include emergency shelter, therapy, housing assistance, and advocacy for survivors.

One of the elements that makes the Wine Pairing so remarkable is its consistency and quality. The event has been routinely hosted at the Logan Country Club, a venue that provides an intimate and elegant atmosphere perfectly suited for an evening of connection and generosity. Each year, CAPSA partners with Justin Hamilton and his team atOff-Premise Catering, who design and execute a truly unforgettable meal.

Guests are treated to a five-course meal, each course carefully paired with a selection of fine wines. From the thoughtful presentation to the robust flavors, every detail is crafted to delight and surprise. For many attendees, the Wine Pairing is not only an opportunity to support a cause close to their hearts but also a highlight on their culinary calendar.

Stories That Inspire

While the food and wine provide a memorable experience, the heart of the Wine Pairing lies in the stories shared during the evening. Each year, Jill Anderson, CAPSA’s Executive Director, speaks to the audience. She shares real stories of real survivors: women, men, and children whose lives have been forever changed through CAPSA’s programs and services. These stories are raw, emotional, and deeply moving.

There is a moment, every year, when the room goes quiet. Wine glasses are set down, forks rest on plates, and every heart in the room turns toward the stories of survival and resilience. It is in these moments that the need for CAPSA becomes undeniable. The services CAPSA provides are not abstract. They are lifelines for people in our very own community.

The generosity that follows is always overwhelming. Year after year, attendees give from their hearts, whether through donations, auction bids, or simply spreading the word about CAPSA’s work. The Wine Pairing is proof that when people gather together with a purpose, incredible things can happen.

Why It Matters

Domestic and sexual violence are issues that affect every community, including ours. Survivors need safe shelter, supportive services, and advocacy to rebuild their lives. CAPSA provides all of this and more, but we cannot do it alone. Events like the Wine Pairing allow CAPSA to continue offering these vital services free of charge to survivors and their families.

The need speaks for itself. Each story shared at the Wine Pairing is a reminder that behind every statistic is a person. Someone’s daughter, son, friend, or neighbor. Attending the event, donating, or supporting CAPSA in any way is not only an act of generosity but also an act of solidarity with survivors.

Looking Ahead

As we prepare for this year’s Wine Pairing, we invite our community to join us in honoring Mike Parent’s legacy, enjoying an evening of incredible food and wine, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of survivors.

Together, we can ensure that CAPSA remains a place of safety and a source of hope. Together, we can celebrate community and generosity. And together, we can raise a glass to Mike, to survivors, and to a future free from violence.

Join Us October 24th

Tickets are still available for this year’s Wine Pairing, and we would love to have you join us for this meaningful evening. Seating is limited, and this event has sold out in the past, so we encourage you to reserve your spot. Tickets can be purchased online at capsa.org/wine, where you’ll also find more details about the event. Every ticket purchased helps CAPSA continue providing life-saving services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse in our community.

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Light the Night with CAPSA: Shining Purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Cache Valley

Every October, communities across the country come together to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). It’s a time to raise awareness, show support for survivors, and take a stand against abuse in all its forms. Here in Cache Valley, CAPSA is proud to kick off DVAM with our annual Light the Night event. This powerful community gathering will take place on Wednesday, October 1st, at the Cache County Historic Courthouse, and we invite everyone in our community to join us as the purple lights come on across downtown Logan, displaying awareness and support for survivors of domestic violence.

What is CAPSA’s Light the Night Event?

CAPSA’s Light the Night is more than just a kickoff to Domestic Violence Awareness Month—it’s an opportunity for our entire community to come together with hope and purpose. On the first night of October, the Cache County Historic Courthouse and the surrounding downtown area will glow with purple lights, the official color of domestic violence awareness.

This event is designed to be both meaningful and uplifting. Families, friends, survivors, and supporters are invited to gather, enjoy purple-themed activities, and watch the valley shine in purple as a symbol of unity. By attending, you’re not only helping raise awareness but also showing survivors that they are not alone and that Cache Valley stands with them.

This year’s Light the Night will include:

  • Purple refreshments for guests to enjoy while mingling.

  • Luminary decorating, where participants of all ages can create hopeful, supportive messages. These luminaries will light up the grounds as the sun goes down.

  • The exciting moment when the downtown Logan purple lights are officially turned on, marking the beginning of DVAM in Cache Valley.

Why Purple Lights for DVAM?

Purple is the national color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, symbolizing courage, survival, and peace. Across the U.S., communities light landmarks and buildings in purple to demonstrate their commitment to ending domestic violence.

Here in Cache Valley, the purple lights surrounding the Cache County Historic Courthouse are more than decoration—they are a message of solidarity. They let survivors know that their community sees them, believes them, and supports their healing. They also serve as a reminder to everyone in Cache Valley that domestic violence is not a private issue—it’s a community issue, and we all play a role in ending it.

When you walk or drive through downtown Logan during October and see the purple lights, you’ll know that our valley is united in supporting survivors and working toward a safer future for everyone.

Why Attend Light the Night?

Attending Light the Night with CAPSA is a way to turn awareness into action. The event is free, family-friendly, and open to everyone. By showing up, you send a powerful message: that you care about survivors, that you want to learn more, and that you are committed to helping end domestic violence in Cache Valley.

The event also creates an opportunity for important conversations. Many people in our community have been personally impacted by domestic violence, whether they know it or not. DVAM is a time to break the silence, reduce stigma, and remind survivors that help is available. CAPSA provides free and confidential services year-round, but awareness events like Light the Night amplify our mission and extend our reach.

How You Can Get Involved Beyond the Event

Coming to Light the Night is a great first step, but there are other ways you can support survivors during Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

  • Wear purple throughout October to raise awareness.

  • Share photos of the Cache Valley purple lights on social media with hashtags like #DVAM and #CAPSA.

  • Talk to your family, friends, and coworkers about domestic violence and available resources.

  • Learn more about CAPSA’s services and volunteer opportunities at capsa.org.

Join Us in Lighting the Night Purple

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 1st, at the Logan Historic Courthouse. Come decorate a luminary, enjoy a purple refreshment, and be part of the moment when Cache Valley shines purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Together, we can create a safer, more supportive community where survivors are empowered to heal and thrive.

Join CAPSA, your neighbors, and community leaders as we Light the Night purple—because every light matters, every survivor matters, and together we are stronger.

For more information about CAPSA, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, or how you can support survivors in Cache Valley, visit capsa.org.

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Stander Increases their Support of CAPSA’s Annual Golf Tournament

Stander increases their support of CAPSA’s Annual Golf Tournament to honor founder Jan Miller’s love and support of CAPSA. 

Stander, a local mobility device company, and the family of Jan Miller, the founder and former CEO of Stander, have committed to becoming the presenting sponsor for the Jan Miller Memorial Golf Tournament for CAPSA. This move marks an increase in the companies’ support of the non-profit organization, which provides help and support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and rape in Cache Valley and Rich County.  

The Jan Miller Memorial Golf Tournament is one of CAPSA’s most significant in-house fundraising events, raising over $50,000 each year. All of CAPSA’s services are provided free of charge, and the funds raised from this event go towards supporting individuals and families escaping violence, beginning new lives, and healing from associated trauma. 

Jan Miller, who was a longtime board member of CAPSA, was passionate about empowering survivors of domestic violence to become independent. She served on the board from 2006 until her passing in 2018 and as the board president was instrumental in the establishment of Independence Place, a CAPSA-owned neighborhood of nine homes, the creation of an endowment, and the expansion of therapy services. In honor of Jan’s memory, CAPSA renamed the annual golf tournament to the Jan Miller Memorial Golf Tournament in 2019. 

Stander has been a longstanding supporter of CAPSA and has now committed to becoming the presenting sponsor of the Golf Tournament. This sponsorship is a testament to the company’s commitment to honoring Jan’s legacy and love for CAPSA.  

The Jan Miller Memorial Golf Tournament will take place on June 8, 2023, at the Logan Golf and Country Club. The registration, sponsorship, and tournament details can be found at www.capsa.org/golf. 

ABOUT CAPSA  

CAPSA is a nonprofit domestic violence, sexual assault and rape support center serving Cache and RIch Counties. Each year CAPSA serves more than 1,900 women, men and children fleeing abuse and healing healing from the trauma associated with domestic violence or sexual abuse. CAPSA’s support services include 24-hour support phone lines, emergency shelter, casework, rape exam advocacy, prevention education, transitional housing, and clinical therapy. All CAPSA’s services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. Learn more at capsa.org. 

ABOUT STANDER 

Jan Miller founded Stander, a company that invents and manufactures mobility devices for the elderly and disabled, in 1998 and served as Stander’s Fearless Leader (president and CEO) until her passing. Jan, along with her husband Troy Miller (engineer), were first inspired to create mobility devices to assist Jan’s grandmother. These inventions enabled Essie to live independently in the comfort of her own home. This victory, combined with Jan’s commitment to better society, inspired her to create Stander, Inc. Since then, Stander has invented over 30 innovative mobility solutions to help the elderly and disabled live more independently. 

For further information, please contact Alyna Ohling, the Community Engagement Director for CAPSA, at alyna@capsa.org or 435-752-2500. 

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is domestic violence awareness month. Raising awareness around domestic violence isn’t an easy topic, but CAPSA exists to provide hope. We help survivors in all types of situations find success and healing.  

We want to share some success stories that highlight how CAPSA is able to help all individuals in all kinds of situations.  

1 in 7 men in Utah will experience domestic violence.

  *Names changed to support privacy & confidentiality 

Throughout their relationship, Dan’s girlfriend would often ask him to do a lot of things he didn’t want to do, and when he said no, she would threaten to report his past illegal activity. He was also afraid of the physical harm she could cause. Dan had heard of CAPSA through a sign in the men’s bathroom at his work. He never really thought twice about it because for the majority of his life he thought abusive situations really only happened to women. One day he decided to take a card from the bathroom. Later that day he called CAPSA to see how we could help. 

Because Dan reached out to CAPSA, he was able to come in and meet with our caseworkers in a safe and confidential space. They reassured him that he was in fact in an abusive situation and that what was happening to him was wrong. CAPSA’s caseworkers and therapists advocated for him and helped him through his situation. Dan realized that men also deserve to be treated with respect and that these situations can happen to men as well.  

Men do experience Domestic Violence, CAPSA is here to help.  

1 in 5 Utah children will hear or witness domestic abuse.

*Names changed to support privacy & confidentiality 

Two young kids had witnessed much of their parents’ fighting from a young age. Jack was only 7 but he could remember the yelling from when he was really little. Their mom, had tried to hide the abuse from her kids to the best of her ability, but when it got really bad, she knew they could tell what was going on. Sarah knew she couldn’t let them continue to hear the things her husband was saying to her. She had always been financially tied to him, which is what had kept her from seeking help before. 

Sarah was able to contact CAPSA and stay in our emergency shelter with her kids. She received financial assistance which helped her to secure an apartment for her family while she utilized our therapy programs and furthered her education.  

Families are impacted by domestic violence, CAPSA is here to help. 

 

CAPSA Services are Free and Confidential

 If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse, CAPSA can provide free and confidential services. Call 435-753-2500 to speak with a trained advocate. 

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Domestic Violence Trivia

CAPSA’s Trivia Night is February 24, 2018. To get us in the spirit, we’ve created a set of trivia questions revolving around domestic violence. See how you do:

  1. Which state first rescinded the right of a man to inflict violence upon his partner?
  2. In what year did domestic violence become a federal crime?
  3. In what year did the first shelter for abused women and children open in the United States?
  4. Which film did the domestic violence term, “gaslighting” originate from?
  5. The classic Cycle of Abuse has four main stages: tension building, acute violence or acting out, reconciliation and what?
  6. True or False, domestic violence rates in Utah are higher than the national average.
  7. Including CAPSA, how many domestic violence shelters are there within the state of Utah?
  8. On average, how many times does an individual try to leave an abusive relationship before succeeding?

STOP!

It’s time to review your answers:

  1. Alabama was the first state to rescind this right in 1871. The defining case in the matter was Fulgham V. State.
  2. Domestic violence became a national crime when the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed by the United States Congress in 1994.
  3. The Women’s Advocates was the first domestic violence shelter in the U.S., and it opened its doors in 1974.
  4. The term gaslighting originated from the 1944 movie Gaslight. The term is used to describe a form of emotional abuse where the victim feels it is their fault for provoking the abuser to anger. Many individuals who have dealt with gaslighting feel they are going crazy and cannot do anything right.
  5. The Cycle of Abuse culminates in the Honeymoon or calm stage where the abuser is kind and loving toward their victim and they promise they will change and no longer be violent, controlling or manipulative.
  6. True. Nationally, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men will be abused in their lifetime. In Utah, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience abuse.
  7. There are 16 domestic violence shelters throughout Utah.
  8. On average, it takes a survivor of domestic violence 7 attempts to escape before succeeding.

Learn more about domestic violence and how to help a loved one on the Get Help part of our website. If you or a loved one experiences or experienced abuse, call CAPSA at (435) 753-2500.