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2007 National Crime Victims' Rights Week The honorees received special recognition during the awards ceremony hosted April 20, 2007, by the Office for Victims of Crime to honor victim advocates, organizations, and programs in the field of victim services.
Volunteer for Victims Award To view more details, click on a photo for an enlarged view.
Donna Marie Kukura Donna Kukura is the current Chapter Leader and Cofounder of the Long Island, New York/Suffolk County, Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children (POMC). She began her volunteer work with POMC following the tragic loss of her younger brother, Brian Boothe, who was murdered at the age of 35 on Christmas Day 2002. The murder remains unsolved. Before her brother's murder, Donna was a clinician at a local hospital and was employed as a Project Liberty Team Leader providing counseling services to victims of September 11. After her brother's murder, she left her employment and decided to volunteer full time. Donna has used her own experience with traumatic grief to improve the lives of others through her advocacy, counseling, and supportive outreach. She goes “above and beyond” for others, making herself available to provide counseling or listen to survivors whenever she is needed. Donna does an enormous amount of outreach to increase public awareness of the services and rights available to crime victims, particularly to homicide survivors. Donna Kukura was nominated by June Ginty of Oakdale, New York, National Board Member, Parents of Murdered Children, Inc., and Suffolk County Chapter POMC Cofounder.
James D. Huffman Jim Huffman is a victim advocate with Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims in East Wenatchee, Washington. His daughter and wife were murdered, and his personal tragedy has led him to work to improve services for crime victims. Through his volunteer work with the local community, Jim has created and maintained support groups for families and victims of violent crime, including grief and bereavement services. He created a comprehensive guide for victim impact statements, which is used in the local prosecutor's office as a tool to assist victims. Jim has a caring heart and a sense of compassion and empathy, which is what many crime victims need in their darkest moments. He was present in court on the anniversary of his daughter's and wife's deaths to offer support to another victim's family. Jim's ongoing commitment to the community has led to stronger prosecution, better services for referrals, and a more integrated approach to victims from many outside agencies. Jim Huffman was nominated by Brandy West, Crime Victim Advocate, Crime Victim Services Center, Moses Lake, Washington.
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