Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) honored Colusa County nonprofit Karen’s House as the 2023 Fourth Assembly District Nonprofit of the Year at the State Capitol Wednesday, June 7.

This is the eighth year the California Assembly has honored nonprofits throughout the state on California Nonprofits Day.

“Karen’s House is an incredibly valuable organization as the first and only domestic violence program in Colusa County,” said Aguiar-Curry. “As vice chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, I am so grateful for the services Karen’s House provides to women who are trying to break the cycle of domestic violence. I am thrilled to be able to honor such a fine group as the Fourth Assembly District Nonprofit of the Year.”

Founded in 2018, after the death of Williams native Karen Garcia, Karen’s House is the first domestic violence program in Colusa County and assists women and children with housing, food, clothing and personal hygiene needs.

Karen’s House also advocates on behalf of their clients by providing a safe space that promotes intervention, prevention, awareness and empowerment.

Karen’s House was honored with a resolution from the California State Assembly at an awards luncheon sponsored by CalNonprofits for their numerous contributions to Colusa County.

Representing Karen’s House were president and founder Cynthia “Tootie” Hackett and Colusa County Supervisor Kent Boes who also sits on Karen’s House Board of Directors.

“It was such an honor to be recognized as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year for our work to help victims of domestic violence in Colusa County. When a young lady I knew was killed at the hands of her boyfriend five years ago, I felt like there must be something we can do. I didn’t want her death to just be swept under the rug, so I started Karen’s House,” said Tootie Hackett, president and founder of Karen’s House.

Karen’s House is currently working towards their goal of opening and operating their own shelter, which would be the first domestic violence shelter in Colusa County.

Aguiar-Curry represents the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all of Lake, Colusa, Napa, and Yolo counties, and part of Sonoma County.