WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MaleSurvivor, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to overcoming sexual victimization of boys and men, will bring its national Dare to Dream program to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday, June 23, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event will take place at Northmount School for Boys (26 Mallard Rd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
Dare to Dream, developed in response to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” highlighting male sexual abuse and featuring internationally recognized MaleSurvivor spokesperson, Dr. Howard Fradkin, will focus on bringing a message of hope and healing while offering support for abuse survivors in its sixth installment of the local programs. Dare to Dream will provide male survivors with a safe and comfortable environment to join others in lifting the veil of secrecy and shame from their experience. The free program will feature clips from the Emmy-nominated “The Oprah Winfrey Show” segments, a facilitated panel discussion, and an opportunity to learn about local resources and support groups.
Rob Hawkings, MA, CACCF, Lynne MacDonell, BA, CADC, CHt will facilitate the Toronto program. Co-sponsors include: Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness, Time for Men Group, and Emotional Fitness for Men, an Online Healing Community.
According to MaleSurvivor:
- It is estimated that 1 in 6 men were sexually abused as children. This statistic increases to 1 in 4 men if sexual abuse done by someone who does not actually have physical contact is included.
- Most men NEVER talk about their abuse because boys are socially taught they should withstand emotional and physical pain without complaining.
- Most adult males that were abused, report having difficulty with intimate relationships because their ability to trust others has been damaged, often by people who told them they cared about them.
- For many men, their abuse leads to sexual orientation confusion, sexual dysfunctions, and difficulty believing it is possible to combine sex with love.
- Most men NEVER talk about their abuse because of extreme shame, because they believe it was their fault, and because they learned men are supposed to be strong and should never need help
To reserve a spot (space is limited), contact Jacqueline Coombs at 416-729-4403. For more information about male sexual victimization, or to learn more about the Dare to Dream program, contact Trisha at ytamassa@aol.com 800-738-4181 or visit: http://www.malesurvivor.org/dare-to-dream.html
About MaleSurvivor
MaleSurvior (http://www.malesurvivor.org/) is not-for-profit organization committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. Founded in 1994, the organization has reached over 50 million individuals whose lives have been forever impacted by sexual abuse.