Joining Forces to Fight Child Abuse: Child Advocates of Fort Bend hosts Annual Light of Hope Ceremony

Child Advocates of Fort Bend and the City of Richmond joined forces on Friday, April 1 to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month with a fun, family friendly evening at Wessendorff Park in Richmond, complete with a movie, t-shirts and activities for the whole family. Child Advocates of Fort Bend Board President Nancy Olson welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. Child Advocates of Fort Bend Community Outreach Coordinator Lindsey Castellanos shared some child abuse statistics and prevention tips and Richmond Mayor Becky Haas read a proclamation from the City of Richmond. Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s Volunteer Council, Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Exchange Club of Fort Bend, Aguirre & Fields, ARTreach, Kustom Cyclez, BACA – Gulf Coast Chapter and Richmond Rotary provided awareness information and family activities for those in attendance. Following the ceremony, families enjoyed a showing of the movie Peter Rabbit 2 courtesy of the City of Richmond. Shown (L to R) are: Stevie Irbie, Carollynn Thesing, April Shaver and Rhonda Kuykendall.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend served 4,230 children and families last year who were victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse or neglect. It is the largest number of children they have served since opening their doors 31 years ago.  Although child abuse knows no season, April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. There are many ways to participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month including wearing a blue ribbon, helping to pass out blue ribbons, posting child abuse prevention month materials in your place of business, attending a training about how you can be a safe adult for children and inviting Child Advocates of Fort Bend to talk to your group about child abuse. For more information about April Child Abuse Prevention Month activities go to www.cafb.org or call 281-341-9955. To request a speaker go to https://www.cafb.org/programs/community-education/speaker-requests/ or contact Lindsey at LCastellanos@cafb.org.