In the News

Nov. 1, 2023 - These for-profit and nonprofit winners are making a mark on the Denver area — and beyond.

Aug. 12, 2023 - "'It's scary. It's scary for all of us," said Megan Carvajal, executive director at The Blue Bench, a center for sexual assault survivors. Even when we don't hear about it and may assume it's not happening, she said sexual violence is still everywhere. "I'm very grateful to the survivors who chose to report this to help us end this," said Carvajal."

July 22, 2023 - "Casey Ballinger, a spokesperson and advocate for the Blue Bench, a sexual assault prevention and survivor support center in Denver, said survivors already had faced significant difficulties receiving accountability through the legal system."

June 08, 2023 - "The Blue Bench, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sexual assault and supporting survivors, will host its 40th anniversary celebration at Ratio Beerworks."

April 25, 2023 - "It’s pretty serious. It’s concerning," said Casey Ballinger, the lead advocate at The Blue Bench, an organization that helps survivors of sexual assault. She said the conversation about fake IDs could fit a definition of grooming.

April 7, 2023 - "Casey Ballinger, a lead advocate with the Blue Bench, an organization that tries to prevent sexual assault, said date rape cases are generally underreported. She says about one of every 10 sexual assaults reported to her organization fall under the umbrella of date rape. She told CBS News Colorado the reason the cases are not often reported is because the victims and perpetrators know each other, victims fear retaliation and fear not being believed."

March 29, 2023 - "Though creating art was positive for her mental health, it was not enough to work through her sexual trauma. At the recommendation of her therapist, Merz began getting help from the Blue Bench, a comprehensive sexual assault survivor support and prevention education center. The nonprofit's mission is 'to eradicate sexual assault and diminish the impact it has on individuals, their loved ones, and our community through comprehensive issue advocacy, prevention, and care.'"

March 24, 2023 - "Nobody wants to talk about sexual violence," said Megan Carvajal, the executive director of The Blue Bench, a sex assault survivor center. "We have the opportunity to change that conversation--that makes it easier for survivors to seek support, it makes it easier for them to report.

April 6, 2022 - “'Denver encourages everyone to believe victims of sexual assault, and we must continue the shift from doubt and blame to belief and support,' Hancock said. 'We should start by believing because our reaction has the potential to make a direct impact on those close to us, and we should make it a positive impact.'"

December 6, 2021 - Jacqui Aamodt with The Blue Bench joins us to discuss how the holidays can be challenging. The Blue Bench 24-hour sexual assault hotline is 303-322-7273.

Sep 12, 2021 - "At The Blue Bench, requests from sexual assault survivors for therapy and case management services have increased exponentially in 2021, compared to 2020, resulting in a 4-week wait time for some services." - Opinion piece from Executive Director of The Blue Bench, Megan Carvajal

April 22, 2021 - Beta Theta Pi created Beta’s Blue Heart Gala, an event that was originally scheduled to be held in the Arrow Touchdown Club at Farrand Field in April 2020... Even though the gala had to be postponed, the brothers were able to raise just over $7,000 from pre-ticket sales for The Blue Bench.

March 27, 2021 - "Sudev is Hotline Advocate with The Blue Bench, a Denver-based organization that specializes in assisting survivors of gender-based violence and sexual assault. When the pandemic hit and his classes at the University of Denver abruptly shifted online, Sudev searched for ways to help his community."

Jan 17, 2020 - Susie Roman is with the “Blue Bench,” a Denver-based organization... Roman says the “person of trust” charge is extremely important. “What’s happening is sexual violence. It’s not consensual sex,” Roman said.

December 22, 2018 - Across the Denver metro area, hospitals are reporting that they’ve seen an increase in 2018 in patients who have been sexually assaulted.