Imagine living in fear of your domestic partner. Wondering if tonight will be the night that you or your children are abused?

One out of four women in the U.S. will suffer violence at the hands of a partner, over 3 million victims a year. The U.S. Surgeon General states it is the largest cause of injury to American women today, exceeding auto accidents, rapes and muggings combined.

Napa Emergency Women's Service (NEWS) is celebrating 25 years of empowering women to cope with abusive situations.

"We're not about only telling women to leave abusive situations," said Tracy Lamb, director of NEWS. "We offer choices, but don't tell them what to do. We encourage them to get involved in the system and to get help early. All kinds of women come here; it's a cross section of all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. They come to us because they have no other sources or places to turn. When it's an emergency situation, they arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They have to start life from scratch."

The organization operates an emergency shelter that can house four or five women and their children. They also offer a 24-hour crisis line, counseling services and support groups, educational programs, children's services and legal advocacy.

NEWS is headquartered in the bright, airy Napa Valley Vintners Building on Pear Street, sharing the space with Community Health Clinic Ole and the Sister Ann Dental Clinic. It is a tranquil, professional space, but the organization's beginnings were far more humble.

"This started at a grass roots level," said Lamb. "Volunteers took women into their own homes, which was quite risky. They had a makeshift child care facility so that women could have support groups. These people saw a need and made it happen."

Napa Valley College professor Lauren Coodley was one of those first involved. "The whole thing began in a Women's Studies class here, taught by me, at the college in about 1976 or 1977," wrote Coodley in an e-mail. "A group of part-time teachers, students and community members developed a hotline and got training from the group that was working against child abuse, I think it was Judy Nelson, as well as a slideshow about the connections between pornography and violence to women."

Coodley is uncertain if the group called themselves NEWS at that point. "If not, we called ourselves the Battered Women's Hotline and also worked with Queen of the Valley Hospital to develop a rape kit and protocol for victims. Sherrie Stone and Michelle Jones were central in our efforts."

It may be difficult to realize in 2006 how different the situation was 30 or so years ago.

"The laws were different then," said Lamb. "The police might be called, but they didn't have the grounds to take action. They'd say 'walk around the block and cool down.' It wasn't talked about, but was considered a family issue."

Mary Ann Cinowalt arrived in Napa in 1979, after, she says, the foundation was laid. "My introduction to NEWS was getting signatures from adult community members who agreed with using community development block grant money to purchase a shelter for battered women and their children," Cinowalt reminisced in an e-mail.

"My daughter Joy, at age 5, and I stood in front of the grocery store in Westwood and in front of K-Mart and Buttercream Bakery, one time on Super Bowl Sunday, to gather signatures. A comment in particular comes to mind, a man who in 1981 was one of the owners of Treadway & Wigger funeral home, told me he knew battering existed because he saw bodies that showed signs the women had been battered. He said something to the effect of, 'You bet I'll sign.'"

The group got 2,500 signatures, which they took to the City Council. The Council agreed to give the group $50,000 for the shelter if the Board of Supervisors would also chip in $50,000. The Supes agreed and the group purchased a home.

"NEWS became formalized at that time," said Lamb. "Now we receive more than 1,000 calls to our hotline each year. Napa cares about our mission. Directors have come and gone, the shelter has changed and we've gone from a portable building to the Vintners Building. But women know when they walk in here they won't be given any less than our best."

The organization receives many inquiries from women who feel they're being verbally abused, to ones who want to know their choices, to law enforcement interventions.

"When a woman seeks help, we have her sit down with a counselor who will listen and assess her needs. Again, we offer choices, but don't tell them what to do. They may need legal advocacy and help obtaining a restraining order, or transitional housing, or time in the emergency shelter to work on a plan. Other times, they may just want to talk."

NEWS has confidential support groups, including a children's support group. "In the children's group, the therapy is not obvious, it includes fun activities. We work with them on positive communication and building their self-esteem.

"The first and second times women in the adult support groups come in, their heads are lowered and they don't say a word. By the fourth session, they begin to talk and by the fifth we begin to see a change and they start to mentor others."

Many women are afraid to come to the emergency shelter. But once there, they find a comfortable home with a nice backyard, freshly decorated rooms, privacy and a television. The Queen of the Valley Hospital donated a new kitchen.

"They have to work together as a group and there are rules," said Lamb. "Most of the women there have restraining orders so they're protected and can work or go to school. Sometimes they just need to be there for a couple of nights until they work out another plan and that's OK, too."

Lamb said they occasionally receive a call from law enforcement about a man being abused and will try to help him if possible, but the need is greatest for women.

The organization has a staff of 14. "Our staff is amazing, dedicated, well-trained, professional and committed to providing service to these women," said Lamb. "A good percentage of them are bilingual and bicultural. We have so many success stories, such as the woman with four children, who was non-English speaking and had to overcome everything. She has moved into transitional housing and now works and pays the rent. Our wonderful transitional housing manager, Sandra Kane, is a case manager and continues to visit our clients making sure they're successfully managing their lives.

"People ask me how can I work in such an environment, thinking it must be depressing. But every day we see victories and women becoming successful and empowered."

NEWS relies on state and federal fund along with fundraisers, such as the upcoming gala, the Silver Anniversary Celebration on Saturday at Silverado Resort. There will be a sparkling wine reception, dinner and live and silent auctions for rare wines, restaurant certificates, lodging and travel.

"Napa is the kind of community that bands together for causes. It's heartening to see how well they support our program. The community knows there's a need for the work we do. By the age of 17, one in four girls knows someone who has been abused, or has been abused by her partner. This is before they graduate high school."

What does Lamb want the community to know? "To be aware when they think a woman is in trouble, that they might be the person who helps her get on the right road."

Tickets to the gala may be purchased online at www.napanews.org. For sponsorships or to purchase a table, contact NEWS at 252-3687.