Special Event:

On June 27 , 2004 supporters of Jane Doe Inc. and fans of the Boston Red Sox threw down their blankets on the outfield of Fenway Park and got ready to enjoy a picnic like no other they had ever experienced. The event, called Picnic in the Park, was hosted by the Red Sox Wives to benefit Jane Doe Inc. and the Red Sox Foundation.

VIP ticket holders soaked in the panoramic view of the park from the exclusive .406 Club. The highlight of the VIP reception was an informal Q &A session that began as a one-on-one with Manager Terry Francona and CBS4’s Bob Lobel and grew to include more than a dozen players and their wives. At the main event, guests enjoyed the sights and sounds of Fenway - testing their pitching speed in the bullpen, savoring a Fenway frank with all the fixings on the outfield, snapping photographs, and getting autographs.

When the final auction item went to the highest bidder, the night’s tally approached $200,000. Everyone’s hard work paid off: Jane Doe celebrated with old friends, made many new fans, and raised awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence.

The media attention garnered for the Picnic did more than just sell tickets. The wives, owners, and players lent their voices as allies in the promotion of healthy communities and relationships built on safety and respect.

Click here to see more and to order prints. All photos by Ilene Perlman.

If you missed the media coverage, check out these articles:

“Picnic in the Park” – photo gallery posted on boston.com.

“Fighting Back” – The powerful story of Lisa Kapler, wife of Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler. Lisa made a courageous choice to come forward and talk about her experience as a survivor of dating violence when she was a teenager. With the support of Gabe and the Red Sox, Lisa saw this partnership between Jane Doe and the Red Sox as an opportunity to speak out publicly for the first time. By breaking the silence, she hopes to send a message of hope as well as a call to action to teenagers today and the adults and peers in their lives who can help end the violence.

“Interview with Shonda Schilling” - Shonda spoke to David at www.redsoxnation.net about Picnic in the Park, being a Red Sox wife, and more!

If you missed the event, but still want to contribute to Jane Doe's important work, click here.

Questions about the event and how else you can get involved with Jane Doe? Contact JDI’s Special Event Coordinator Maureen Oakes at moakes@janedoe.org.