Crime-Victim Hope Attorneys of North Carolina Entity

02/25/2026

I’m honored to be speaking at the 2026 Crime Victim Law Conference, the premier event for victims’ rights attorneys and advocates hosted by National Crime Victim Law Institute.

Join me as we explore how to work with military victim counsel to enhance representation by identifying gaps and outlining practical solutions for bridging them through coordinated support with civilian counsel. We will also discuss building referral networks to ensure victims receive comprehensive, continuous legal support. Looking forward to it!

Date: May 27–28, 2026
Location: Portland, OR or virtually
Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/ed8KgXap

ncchance.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/racresenzo/

02/24/2026

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Community,

I am deeply honored to be joining C.H.A.N.C.E. as your new Executive Director. Diva’s kind words of introduction mean more than I can express, and I am grateful for the extraordinary foundation she has built and the trust she has placed in me to carry this mission forward.

My name is Ruth Cresenzo, and like Diva, advocating for crime victims is not just my profession — it is my calling. I spent almost 24 years in the military, with the last 10 years with the National Guard’s Special Victims Counsel Program, which provides legal representation and advocacy to eligible military-connected victims of crime at some of the most difficult moments of their lives. That experience gave me a deep understanding of the barriers survivors face — and the profound difference it makes when someone is truly in their corner.

As Executive Director, one of my first priorities will be launching an inaugural project specifically dedicated to serving military-connected victims and filling gaps in military Victim Counsel representation — a complex population I am deeply passionate about supporting through C.H.A.N.C.E.

I also bring experience in nonprofit management, and I am dedicated to growing the reach and impact of this organization so that crime victims – particularly special crime victims – have a voice and a path forward.

I am excited to connect with this community in the weeks ahead and share more about my vision. Please feel free to reach out anytime at [email protected] or visit us at ncchance.org.
Thank you for the warm welcome. I am so proud to serve alongside you.

With Gratitude,
Ruth Cresenzo
Executive Director, C.H.A.N.C.E.

🔗 Learn more about C.H.A.N.C.E. and our mission at ncchance.org, and to reach me directly, contact me at [email protected] or via LinkedIn, at https://www.linkedin.com/in/racresenzo/

02/24/2026

An Important Message from Our Founder & Executive Director, Diva Edel:

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Community,

After much reflection, I’ve made the deeply personal decision to step down as the Executive Director of C.H.A.N.C.E. This choice comes as I focus more fully on my family in this next season of life.

Founding this organization has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Its founding marked the completion of a goal I set out to achieve when I was twenty-one years old — looking for a path forward after I became a victim of crime and experienced firsthand how unjust our justice system can be for crime victims. At that time, I resolved to dedicate my career to helping other crime victims advocate for their rights.

Pursuing that goal has allowed me the humbling opportunity to support victims across the country in their fight for justice. I could not imagine a greater honor than being trusted by my clients at what is often one of the most challenging points in their lives.

I want to thank the victims I have worked with, and all who supported me throughout this journey. A special thank you to my friends at Notre Dame Law School, the prosecutor’s office where I began my legal career, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center, and the National Crime Victim Law Institute. I am also forever grateful to the family and friends who have believed in me.

I am excited to share that I have selected an incredible new Executive Director — attorney Ruth Cresenzo — who shares my values, vision, and commitment to advocating for crime victims. Ruth has experience with both nonprofit management and an extensive track record of advocacy and program development/management in both the military and civilian worlds. I have full confidence in her leadership.

To our clients, donors, and supporters: THANK YOU. While I’m stepping away from my formal role, I remain committed to supporting both this organization and the victims’ rights movement. I am confident the future of C.H.A.N.C.E. is bright!!!

With Deep Gratitude,
Diva Edel

🔗 Learn more about C.H.A.N.C.E. and our mission at ncchance.org

10/07/2024

It's hard to believe C.H.A.N.C.E. is approaching one year since gaining 501(c)(3) status in November. In the last year we've established a website thanks to the very generous assistance of my longtime friend, Max Gill, and opened our doors to clients. This has allowed us to reach and assist numerous victims of crime in North Carolina with everything from pre crime reporting consultations to court advocacy. We have also had the opportunity to provide technical assistance to other victims' rights organizations and professionals throughout the state of North Carolina.

Currently, all our services are free to clients, however we are also currently entirely funded by donations. To maintain our services for North Carolina's crime victims, we ask your continued support of C.H.A.N.C.E. and its mission. Your donations help ensure the costs to maintain the website, our business operations, and legal research platforms remain covered. In addition, and most importantly they ensure we can continue to provide legal services to North Carolina's crime victims. Please consider donating as you are able. Thank you!

It's hard to believe C.H.A.N.C.E. is approaching one year since ga… Diva Edel needs your support for Support Legal Services for North Carolina's Crime Victims

06/27/2024

CHANCE was in Raleigh today to support a testifying client. I’m always so amazed by the strength and bravery my clients show on the stand, and I’m honored to be their advocate.

If you’re interested in supporting CHANCE in its mission to provide no cost legal services to crime victims’ throughout the state of North Carolina, please check out NCCHANCE.org and consider donating to the continuation of these services via the donation link on our website. Thank you!

05/01/2024

Over the last several months, I've been finalizing everything at C.H.A.N.C.E. to "open" and avoiding actually announcing I'm open because I wanted everything to be perfect before I advertised, but in light of yesterday's tragedy in Charlotte, I decided to share C.H.A.N.C.E. is indeed open and available to serve crime victims, in order to also share something that is more important today, which is this opportunity to support the survivors of the victims of the tragedy that occurred yesterday where four officers lost their lives while serving this community and trying to make it safer for everyone.

Please note, this link to donate is in no way affiliated with C.H.A.N.C.E.'s own fundraising efforts. It is shared from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's page. Please support in any way you are able and keep these officers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you.

Diva Edel, Executive Director of C.H.A.N.C.E.

For those looking for information on how to donate to the families of the four fallen officers or to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation, please visit: https://charlottepolicefoundation.org

Contributions will be directed either to the family or as specified. Please indicate in the PayPal comment section how you would like your donations to be allocated.

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer

• Department of Adult Corrections Officer Sam Poloche

• Department of Adult Corrections Officer William Elliott

• Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks

• To the law enforcement agencies for Wellness Resources

Most information about the foundation can be found at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Foundation.

For those wishing to send personal gifts, cards, or item donations, they can be delivered or mailed to 601 E. Trade Street, Charlotte, NC, with attention to CMPD Human Resources. Rest assured, all items received will be promptly delivered to the families in need. For any inquiries, please reach out to CMPD HRD at 704.336.5320

02/23/2024

Please note, all charitable donations solicited on this page are subject to the following disclosure:

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND A COPY OF ITS LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE SOLICITATION LICENSING BRANCH AT919-814-5400. THE LICENSE IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE STATE.