Amidst accolades such as “a gifted ally for young people in the community,” “a dedicated victim advocate and educator,” “a constant pillar of support for the agency” and “a treasured mentor and friend,” a stunned Carol Intintoli received the 2016 Governor’s Victim Service Pathways’ Individual Prevention/Education and Outreach Award from the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Intintoli, the longest serving staff member of The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. (CVC) Prevention/Education Program, was presented with the award by Jeff Blystone from the Pennsylvania Office of Victims’ Services Commission on Crime and Delinquency at a recent gathering of family, coworkers, nominators and state and local officials at Sprouts Music Collective in West Chester. The Award had been kept under wraps from Intintoli until the actual presentation.
Blystone explained that the Award is the most prestigious recognition that Pennsylvania gives to a victims’ services professional or program. He went on to say that Intintoli’s specific honor – the Individual Prevention/ Education and Outreach Award – is given to an individual who demonstrates a history of creative, innovative service in the development and provision of educational programs; possesses a spirit of empowerment and enthusiasm in meeting the needs of victims; and exhibits significant impact. Blystone acknowledged the numerous letters PCCD received, stating Intintoli clearly demonstrated the spirit of the Award.
In addition to the Governor’s Award, Intintoli also received citations and congratulations from the offices of Senator Tom Killion (R-9) and Senator Andy Dinniman (D-19), as well as from Chester County Board of Commissioners. County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone presented the citation to Intintoli from the Board of Commissioners, while Don Vymazal presented a citation on behalf of Sen. Andy Dinniman, and Teresa DelCampo on behalf of Sen. Tom Killion.
After presenting Sen. Dinniman’s Citation, Vymazal told the audience that Intintoli was responsible for designing some of the window displays at the Senator’s West Chester office each year. The topics of her decorations always involve thought-provoking messages related to victimization (i.e. bullying, personal safety, respectful relationships, human trafficking, etc.). Her creativity doesn’t stop there, however. Intintoli, disappointed in the lack of appropriate prevention/education materials for certain age groups, wrote and did the artwork for three children’s books, which she uses in her presentations about bullying and other pertinent personal safety topics. She also invented interactive games designed to teach young children in a non-threatening manner about preventing bullying and other ways of hurting others.
Intintoli has an M.S. in Special Education from Hunter College, New York. In her role at CVC, Intintoli is responsible for providing personal safety outreach programs to schools, community/church youth groups, camps and the community-at-large. She is also certified by PCCD as a Mandated Reporter Trainer for Child Abuse and provides trainings to professional groups whose work brings them in contact with children.
CVC Executive Director Peggy Gusz describes Intintoli as an invaluable asset to CVC.
“She epitomizes what it means to be dedicated to victim services and raising awareness of crime and violence to the most vulnerable in our community,” said Gusz. “She is the ideal recipient of the Governor’s Victim Services Pathway’s Individual Prevention/Education and Outreach Award.”
Intintoli, who was totally taken aback by the award and citations, said that she was honored by the accolades. She added, however, that they really belong to all of her fellow staff members.
Intintoli resides in West Goshen with her husband Al. She has two adult daughters Jessica and Michelle.
The PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is an administrative commission within the Governor’s Executive Offices dedicated to promoting a collaborative approach to enhance the quality of justice through guidance, leadership and resources by empowering citizens and communities and influencing state policy.
The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. is a private, community-based, non-profit comprehensive victim service agency that provides a broad range of supportive services to victims of crime and their families in Chester County, including hotline response; counseling (group and individual) and advocacy; accompaniment to medical, police and legal procedures; training to area professionals, such as law enforcement and the legal and medical communities; and information and referral services. The agency also provides prevention/education programs to schools, church and community groups and businesses and organizations in the County. CVC has been operating in Chester County since 1973 and is recognized statewide for its victim advocacy work. For more information about CVC, please call 610-692-1926. CVC’s two 24-hour Crisis Hotlines are available to victims of all types of crime. They are 610-692-7273 (Sexual Assault) and 610-692-7420 (Other Crimes).
