Philanthropy

Honestly, up until now, I haven’t given much thought to the word “philanthropy.” When the word would pop up, I’d imagine wealthy people writing checks to the less fortunate, but it’s so much more than that! It’s about giving time, energy, or skills to support others. I’ve been able to witness this firsthand as I’ve volunteered throughout the Deaf community. More recently, I’ve been volunteering at the Utah Independent Living Center (UILC). Their mission is to support people with disabilities, including Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, in living independently. They do this through peer support, advocacy, skills training, and community events like the Deaf/HoH painting class that I help with.

The goal of this program is to build community and promote well-being through creativity, while also encouraging skill development and connection in an all-ASL environment. Information about this specific activity (as well as any other events they offer) can be found on their website and social media. It’s open to individuals who are D/deaf or HoH, they just ask that you RSVP beforehand.

Philanthropy is an essential part of the Utah Independent Living Center. Many of the services they offer are free, which means they depend on volunteers and community support to keep things going. My small role (setting up, helping during the class, and interacting with participants) feels meaningful because it directly contributes to something much bigger. Civic engagement doesn’t have to be loud, flashy, or expensive. Sometimes it’s just showing up, being helpful, and creating a space for others to thrive.

The community partner I decided to revisit is the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf (SLCAD). Since the first time I researched them, I’ve actually been given the opportunity to volunteer with Sego Lily and meet many of the incredible people who work there. Learning firsthand what they do has given me an even deeper appreciation for their mission and impact.

SLCAD’s mission is to create a safe, empowering space for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals through services, advocacy, and education that are accessible in every sense — culturally, linguistically, and emotionally. Their team is made up of people fluent in ASL and deeply rooted in Deaf culture, ensuring that survivors are understood and supported on every level.

I’ve learned, from their website and chatting with the workers, that SLCAD was founded in 2000, prompted by the tragic murder of Penny Williams, a Deaf woman in Utah who was killed by her ex-husband after struggling to get protection because of serious communication barriers. This devastating loss pushed the local Deaf community to create something that would make sure survivors wouldn’t be left without help again. A group of Deaf women even traveled to Seattle to train with Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services and then came back to launch Sego Lily here in Utah.

What I find so powerful is what SLCAD actually provides. As a nonprofit, they don’t just offer crisis intervention, they walk with survivors through every part of the process. They provide safety planning, one-on-one advocacy, support groups, court and medical accompaniments, education on healthy relationships, and help navigating protective orders. They also do prevention work in schools and the community, host positive parenting classes, and have dedicated programs for Deaf LGBTQ+ individuals.

I know that, according to the National Library of Medicine, family and domestic violence affects an estimated 10 million people in the U.S. every year, with as many as one in four women and one in nine men experiencing it. The situation is already incredibly hard to escape, but when you add accessibility barriers or a breakdown in communication, like Penny faced, it becomes so much harder. This issue is also deeply personal to me, and it’s one of the reasons I feel so strongly about the work Sego Lily does. They fill gaps in mainstream systems that simply aren’t built for Deaf survivors, making sure people have a path to safety and support that truly meets them where they are.

When it comes to philanthropy, Sego Lily shows exactly how powerful community support can be. They rely on donations, grants, and volunteers to keep their programs running. Their annual Gala is a big example of how they combine fundraising with community-building and awareness. Plus, they’re always out at local events to spread the word about domestic violence in the Deaf community and to let people know what resources are out there.

Looking ahead, I know I can keep supporting Sego Lily by volunteering, spreading the word, and donating when I can. As I move forward in my interpreting career, I hope I can be someone who makes these systems easier to navigate — and maybe even work directly with Sego Lily someday to keep making sure survivors have the support they deserve.