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News
releases from the Mary Byron Foundation Appriss Creates National Foundation to Help End Domestic Violence Abuse Technology provider for automated victim notification service strengthens the legacy of young murder victim by creating public charity
[Louisville, Ky] – Appriss, Inc. announced today it has created the Mary Byron Foundation, a public charity named after a young woman who was murdered by a former boyfriend. The foundation will fund and support innovative programs designed to stop domestic violence and encourage community participation throughout the United States. In December 1993 Mary Byron was shot seven times on her 21st birthday by a former boyfriend who was believed to still be in jail after being arrested for assaulting her just weeks before the murder. Following Mary’s death, Louisville/Jefferson County, Ky. officials, refusing to accept that even one more victim’s life be in jeopardy due to a lack of information, began seeking solutions that would notify domestic violence victims when their alleged assailants are released from custody. Exactly one year to the date of her murder, the first computerized victim notification program, Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE), became operational in Louisville, Ky. The VINE service is now operational in 35 states, including 20 of the largest 25 metropolitan areas in the United States. Nearly seven years later, Mary Byron’s legacy, a legacy born by the creation of the VINE service, is perpetuated by the creation of the Mary Byron Foundation. Appriss, the provider of the VINE service, took the lead role in starting the charity by contributing $100,000 in seed money. "Supporting this foundation is a great way to show our commitment to ending domestic violence abuse in this country," said Doug Cobb, Appriss Chief Executive Officer. "We’ve been considering many options for some time; this is a natural fit for us, and it’s the right thing to do." This isn’t the first time "seed money"” has helped victims in Mary Byron’s name. The city of Jeffersontown, Kentucky donated $50,000 to help Jefferson County develop the VINE system in 1994. Because VINE empowers victims and enhances their safety, and the Jefferson County program was so successful, Jefferson County donated $100,000 to the Commonwealth of Kentucky to provide VINE statewide. Louisville, Kentucky mayor Dave Armstrong, who led the effort to create VINE in his former elected position as Jefferson County Judge/Executive, said the creation of this foundation shows the VINE program has come full circle. "All too often, it seems it’s always the name of the victim that is forgotten in these cases," said Armstrong. "This foundation changes all that. Today, we take another step to preserve the memory of Mary Byron and ensure her death was not in vain." Marcia Roth, who was the county government staff person that guided the development of VINE in Jefferson County, will lead the foundation as its executive director. "Thanks to Appriss' vision and generosity, we can take the next step in ending domestic violence," said Roth. "We will find solutions, fund programs, and begin to stop the cycle of inter-generational violence affecting millions.”" John and Pat Byron, Mary’s parents and foundation board members said, "Mary’s name will endure to provide a new level of commitment to end domestic violence. We are so grateful." The Mary Byron Foundation is based in Louisville, Ky. and can be reached toll-free at 1-866-264-6684 or locally at 502-992-3444.
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