JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville nonprofit organization celebrated 20 years of working with local victims of violent crimes Thursday with its annual "Together We Can" campaign breakfast.
News4Jax anchor Mary Baer hosted the Justice Coalition event at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville downtown.
Part of the presentation including Clay County deputies wheeling in rose bushes for the daughter of murder victim Roseanne Welsh. The little girl, who was abducted, raped and released after her mother was killed, wants to plant them in the family's yard as a way to honor her mom.
The presentation cut to the heart of the pain and burden many are forced to face as victims of crime.
Former Jaguar Scotty McGee said, "Crime has no face."
In high school, McGee lost his brother to violent crime.
"That fueled my fire," McGee said. "I took that tragedy and said, 'I'm going to turn it into a triumph.' I said, 'I will never allow my brother's death to be in vain.' So I worked harder than I ever did before and it all worked out in the end."
McGee now devotes his time to the Justice Coalition as a victim advocate. He and his colleagues walk victims' families through the court system, help them understand their rights, and provide grief counseling.
"You can just sit back; you can just listen," McGee said. "You don't have to have all the answers. Everyone thinks they have to have the answers but they don't. You've just got to be an open ear."
"It does make a difference when someone is out there and they're saying, 'Hey, we're here for you. We're here for you, and we're going to do everything we can,'" said Ann Dugger, executive director of the Justice Coalition.
Victims' surviving family members and city dignitaries attended the campaign breakfast, which is aimed at bringing awareness to the organization, which has been in Jacksonville for two decades.
"We're still here; we're not going away," Dugger said. "We'll be here for you, and we're here every step of the way."
But the support the Justice Coalition provides is made possible through the community's financial help.
"The hope is that hearts will be open and to give and to support causes like the Justice Coalition and other organizations that advocate for victims of crime," McGee said.
If you would like to donate, text isupportjustice to 84464 or go to JusticeCoalition.org.