MISSION & VISIONNo need is too small and no voice is too quiet to be heard. We will devote the time and energy necessary to educate and advocate.
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VOLUNTEERINGMake a difference. Change a life. Find out how to become our partner.
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RECENT PROGRAMSOur legislative agenda in Iowa recently got the attention of national media. Learn more about this page-turner.
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OUR FOUNDER
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AND LET US NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD, FOR IN DUE SEASON WE WILL REAP, IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP. - GALATIANS 6:9
Now instead of crying when I tell my story, I get to cry when I am told how it changed a life. This has truly been a bittersweet journey. I am forever changed. I'm so fortunate to be able to impact the lives of others, all while partnering with some of the most passionate and driven people in the world. " |
FOUNDATION HISTORY
2009 - Tiffany Allison becomes the victim of a brutal assault perpetrated by her then boyfriend Scotty Wayne Parks. Parks is arrested and criminally charged with Domestic Assault with a Weapon and False Imprisonment for the assault on Allison.
2010 – Parks takes a plea deal, lessening his charge to Domestic Assault. During the Sentencing phase Allison is told by the Judge that she is Parks sixth victim. The Judge reads Parks criminal history aloud including several Second Degree Burglary charges. The Judge explains that Parks has a history of assaulting women and although his prior acts are similar in nature, they resulted in Second Degree Burglary Charges because dating violence is not domestic violence in the state of Iowa. Parks receives a sentence of 2.5 years in prison for the lessor Domestic Assault charge.
After serving only 10 months of his 2.5 year sentence, Parks is released from prison in October 2010, due to the application of sentence reduction programming, through Iowa's Good Time Law. Parks is only monitored for 2 months on parole following his release.
2012 - Parks re-offends with yet another female victim in January, permanently disfiguring this victims face through repeatedly biting her. Parks is arrested and criminally charged with Second Degree Burglary and Willful Injury for this assault. Although they are in an intimate relationship, dating violence is not currently included in Iowa's Criminal Code for Domestic Abuse which mandates couples must live together, be married or have children together.
In September 2012 Parks submits an Alford Plea and is sentenced to 15 years in prison. Parks will only serve 1/3 of this sentence, after seven aggressive assaults on women, again due to sentence reduction programming, through Iowa's Good Time Law.
2014 - Tiffany Allison forms the Soaring Hearts Foundation in an effort to advocate for victims of violent crime nationwide.
That same year Allison works with Senator Matt McCoy (D) to introduce Violent Habitual Offender legislation in Iowa.
2017 - Allison works with Representative Zach Nunn (R) to introduce Third Strike Domestic Violence, Stalking and Harassment and Unauthorized Use of GPS Legislation. The bill passes into law making it easier to prosecute stalking, ensuring offenders complete their rehabilitation and treatment efforts prior to release into the community and making it illegal to use a GPS Device to track a victim.
Allison and Representative Zach Nunn (R) also work together to propose a Domestic Violence Lethality Assessment Bill.
2019 - Parks is released from North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City, Iowa.
2010 – Parks takes a plea deal, lessening his charge to Domestic Assault. During the Sentencing phase Allison is told by the Judge that she is Parks sixth victim. The Judge reads Parks criminal history aloud including several Second Degree Burglary charges. The Judge explains that Parks has a history of assaulting women and although his prior acts are similar in nature, they resulted in Second Degree Burglary Charges because dating violence is not domestic violence in the state of Iowa. Parks receives a sentence of 2.5 years in prison for the lessor Domestic Assault charge.
After serving only 10 months of his 2.5 year sentence, Parks is released from prison in October 2010, due to the application of sentence reduction programming, through Iowa's Good Time Law. Parks is only monitored for 2 months on parole following his release.
2012 - Parks re-offends with yet another female victim in January, permanently disfiguring this victims face through repeatedly biting her. Parks is arrested and criminally charged with Second Degree Burglary and Willful Injury for this assault. Although they are in an intimate relationship, dating violence is not currently included in Iowa's Criminal Code for Domestic Abuse which mandates couples must live together, be married or have children together.
In September 2012 Parks submits an Alford Plea and is sentenced to 15 years in prison. Parks will only serve 1/3 of this sentence, after seven aggressive assaults on women, again due to sentence reduction programming, through Iowa's Good Time Law.
2014 - Tiffany Allison forms the Soaring Hearts Foundation in an effort to advocate for victims of violent crime nationwide.
That same year Allison works with Senator Matt McCoy (D) to introduce Violent Habitual Offender legislation in Iowa.
2017 - Allison works with Representative Zach Nunn (R) to introduce Third Strike Domestic Violence, Stalking and Harassment and Unauthorized Use of GPS Legislation. The bill passes into law making it easier to prosecute stalking, ensuring offenders complete their rehabilitation and treatment efforts prior to release into the community and making it illegal to use a GPS Device to track a victim.
Allison and Representative Zach Nunn (R) also work together to propose a Domestic Violence Lethality Assessment Bill.
2019 - Parks is released from North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City, Iowa.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ellen Van Dam
Our Youth Motivational Speaker, Ellie, shares her story of survivorship through domestic and gun violence to empower youth and help them contemplate qualities of healthy relationships. |
Joshua Jorgensen
A member of our Board of Directors, Josh spends his free time dedicated to ending the epidemic of veteran suicide by raising awareness, providing a bridge of hope and building camaraderie between veterans and their communities. |
Loren Merkle
Our Director of Finance makes sure we're putting funds where they are most needed in the community. An expert in wealth management, Loren shares his knowledge to empower survivors to gain their financial freedom. |
Don Vestal
A member of our Board of Directors, Don ensures all victims receive the care and concern they deserve. Don is committed to making sure all interaction with first responders are interactions that are trauma informed. |