CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Amelia Rayburn-Pizzica, Director of Education & Outreach at the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC), has been awarded the Governor’s Victim Service Pathfinder Award for Individual Prevention, Education & Outreach, the state’s highest honor recognizing leadership in victim services.
The award, presented during the 2025 Pathways for Victim Services Conference on September 11, highlights Rayburn-Pizzica’s decade-long work transforming domestic violence prevention efforts in Chester County and beyond.
The Commonwealth cited her as a leader who “has redefined prevention and education in Chester County, creating a model that reaches far beyond schools and into the wider community.” Through her leadership at DVCCC, she has partnered with educators, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and faith leaders to raise awareness and foster collaboration across Pennsylvania.
Rayburn-Pizzica’s initiatives have included bringing healthy relationship education into classrooms, reaching thousands of teens annually, as well as partnering with coaches and athletes to promote respect on and off the field. She has trained healthcare professionals, teachers, and police officers to recognize warning signs of abuse and connect victims to critical services. Her outreach has extended into digital spaces, where her social media video series has reached tens of thousands with accessible tools for identifying abuse.
“She really approaches the prevention activities with her full heart and soul,” said Dr. Dolly Wideman-Scott, CEO of DVCCC. “She’s definitely a visionary… it’s really great to have somebody who’s not afraid and knows it’s important to get the word out about the issue of domestic violence.”
Rayburn-Pizzica was honored alongside other leaders in Pennsylvania victim services, reflecting her role in reshaping how communities address safety, prevention, and healthy relationships.
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