CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Hampden County Sheriff’s Posse, an organization created this year to support domestic violence awareness and prevention across the county, presented a $45,000 donation to the YWCA of Western Massachusetts on Tuesday, October 21 at Chicopee Country Club.

The donation was made in memory of Eileen Monaghan, executive assistant to Sheriff Nick Cocchi, who was tragically murdered by her boyfriend in 2024. Funds were raised during the Sheriff’s Posse’s first annual golf tournament, which drew more than 250 participants and supporters.

The Hampden County Sheriff’s Posse operates under the Jay Caron Community Impact Foundation and works alongside Sheriff Cocchi to provide vital resources and assistance to victims of abuse. The group is dedicated to improving lives and creating positive change in the community through fundraising and outreach initiatives.

Sheriff Cocchi reflected on Monaghan’s legacy during the presentation, saying, “If Eileen knew about this fundraising effort made on her behalf, she would have said, ‘Thank you, but I’ve got it from here.’ It was in her DNA to help support and guide people. Those of us who knew and loved her will never forget her, but we’ll carry on in her spirit of kindness and compassion.”

Elizabeth Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts, accepted the check and spoke about the pressing need for continued resources to help victims and survivors.

“We have four full-time therapists working with the Children Who Witness Violence program, and each one of them has between 25 to 45 people on the wait list,” Dineen said. “This donation will help us expand our reach and ensure that more children and families receive the care they need.”

The Children Who Witness Violence (CWWV) program provides trauma-informed counseling and supportive services for children ages 3–17 who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence or sexual assault. The program offers short-term intervention, generally 12 to 15 sessions, in English or Spanish, in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.

Dineen also noted that the donation will help expand the YWCA’s Healthy and Empowering Relationship Education (H.E.R.E.) Project, which equips young people with the skills and confidence to identify and interrupt cycles of violence. Currently offered in Springfield to youth ages 12–18, the H.E.R.E. Project partners with local schools to deliver three evidence-based programs:

One Love, addressing healthy relationships and teen dating violence

Bout That Life, focusing on bystander intervention and challenges faced by BIPOC youth

Not A Number, addressing risk and protective factors for sex trafficking

Gary Lavallee, the person who organized and started the Hampden County Sheriff’s Posse, said, "I started the Sheriff’s Posse to make a meaningful impact on domestic violence awareness. This donation in Eileen’s memory is proof of what we can accomplish when the community comes together."

The YWCA of Western Massachusetts provides critical services for individuals and families throughout the region, with locations in Holyoke, Northampton, Springfield, and Westfield, as well as an 11-acre campus at 1 Clough Street in Springfield that offers shelter and comprehensive support for women and children escaping abuse.

Dineen said the YWCA is honored by the gift and the community’s commitment to Eileen Monaghan’s memory.

“This donation not only honors Eileen’s spirit of compassion and service, but it also gives survivors and their families hope for a safer, brighter future,” she said.