Holly’s work reflects a life dedicated to the management, direction, guidance, training and education of others. Committed to the advocacy of victim’s right, Holly has spent her time serving corporations, her own foundation, and numerous community organizations as well as serving as spokesperson and speaker on behalf of victim’s rights. She has received many accolades for her outstanding work helping to build a community network of outreach.

Holly’s passion for advocacy led her to become Executive Director and Co-founder of Holly’s House, a local sexual abuse and domestic violence center, in 2007. That passion later evolved into her current full-time work as a motivational speaker and trainer, using her own experience and uplifting message to inspire and enlighten.

Included in Holly’s long list of awards and accomplishments are:

Best of Evansville, Woman of the Year, Evansville Living Magazine, 2003
Phenomenal Woman of USI, Award Winner for Community Service, 2003
Award for Public Service, US Department of Justice, 2005
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Greatest Public Service, 2006
Hero of the Month, Glamour Magazine, 2007
United States Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Rights of Victims, 2007
Community Service Award, Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police, 2007
Featured on A& E Networks “I Survived” Program, 2009
People Magazine, “Hero Among Us”, 2009
Featured on 48 Hours Lived to Tell Program, 2010
Athena Award Nominee, Evansville, 2007, 2009, & 2011

Holly is a 2000 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Business Administration. She also earned a Masters of Business Administration degree in 2006 from the University of Southern Indiana and an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Oakland City University in 2007.

 

Alternate Biography

An Evansville native, Holly is the only known survivor of the Railroad Serial Killer.  She has used her traumatic experience to help others heal from, or hopefully avoid, similar situations. She lives as a survivor, not a victim. Holly speaks at schools, women's events, churches, civic organizations, before judicial panels, and has provided training sessions for the entire Evansville Police Department.  Holly was the recipient of the 2006 Jefferson Award for Community Service, sponsored by the Evansville Courier and Press; and one of five honorees of the 2006 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting a Community. She was recently featured in People Magazine as a “Hero Among Us” and in Glamour Magazine.  She was also featured on CBS 48 Hours Mystery, Live to Tell.  Holly graduated with a degree in finance from the University of Kentucky in 2000 and with her MBA in 2006 from the University of Southern Indiana.  In 2007, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Oakland City University.  Holly served as the first Executive Director of Holly’s House, Child and Adult Advocacy Center until October 2009.  She now works full time as speaker, trainer, and advocate for victim’s rights.  She is also writing a book.   

Holly's House, a Child and Adult Advocacy Center in Evansville, Indiana, opened in 2008, was named to honor the work of Holly Dunn Pendleton had done in educating our communities on how to assist victims of sexual violence, as well as her personal efforts to reach out and help victims of sexual assault.  Holly's crusade to increase awareness has extended to enlightening all about the services Holly's House provides children and adults who have suffered from any type of intimate crime.  The advocacy center has served over 500 victims since opening!