Hogar Ruth, a Puerto Rico organization serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, will hold its Topaz Gala on Friday, November 20, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Isla Verde to sustain services that its funding does not cover. Executive director Liz del Flores said in an interview with Metro al Mediodía that in 42 years the organization built an interdisciplinary model that includes emergency shelters, prevention programs and what she described as the first and only Montessori school inside a shelter for domestic violence victims.
We cannot afford to close our spaces for lack of economic resources.
Hogar Ruth runs nine programs with a staff of 65, offering protection, emotional support, housing alternatives, legal advocacy, specialized care for children and community prevention, including a sexual assault program, primary prevention work in schools and outpatient support for parents and LGBTQIA+ community members. In 2025, 4,219 people received direct services and another 11,003 were reached through prevention and community outreach, del Flores said.
She said donations keep the emergency shelter, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, open, adding: "We cannot afford to close our spaces for lack of economic resources." Tables and individual seats remain available, and donations can be made through ATH Móvil.