ORANGE, Calif., March 29, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canyon Acres Children and Family Services, a Southern California charity organization committed to providing homes, care, treatment and supportive services for abused, neglected and emotionally troubled children and their families, today announced the launch of their annual Blue Ribbon Campaign to include a full lineup of activities and events to take place during April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Blue Ribbon Campaign aims to raise awareness and drive fundraising efforts for Canyon Acres' signature programs and services.
Beginning now, Canyon Acres is offering free Blue Ribbon awareness pins at www.canyonacres.org. Also, Orange County restaurants including Quatro Cafe, Nello Cucina, Antonello Ristorante and The Winery will include special child abuse awareness inserts in their bill presenters for the entire month. On April 14th, Future Leaders of Orange County (FLOC) will host a mixer at Tustin's Bluewater Grill and present the cause of helping children. The campaign officially concludes on May 15th, when Canyon Acres will host its signature Blue Ribbon Gala at the St Regis Monarch Beach in celebration of Canyon Acres 30th Anniversary.
The blue ribbon has been a symbol of child welfare since 1989, following the death of a very young child in Virginia at the abusive hands of his own parents. In an expression of grief and outrage, the child's grandmother tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van as a way to remember "the bruised and battered body of her grandson" and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse. Her actions provided both a symbol and a rallying cry for child abuse prevention across the nation.
More than three million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported in the United States every year; 2,000 children die as a result of that abuse. Every nine seconds, a child is reported beaten, raped, verbally assaulted, or severely neglected. More children (age four and younger) die from abuse and neglect than any other single cause of death. Nearly five children die every day as a result of abuse. In 2008 and in Orange County alone, there were more than 40,000 reported cases of possible child abuse.
Individuals can help in the following ways:
- Make a donation online at www.canyonacres.org
- Become a monthly Hopeful Child® sponsor
- Be a foster or adoptive parent
- Sign up to receive Canyon Acres' monthly e-newsletter
- Become a fan on Facebook
"The Blue Ribbon Campaign and National Child Abuse Prevention Month call attention to the very core of the work we do year round for children and families who are suffering through what are often multi-generational cycles of abuse and neglect," said Clete Menke, President of Canyon Acres. "It's a time when our supporters can attend events, wear pins and make a pronounced, visual statement of their intolerance for physical and emotional violence toward children. Our community has made great strides in helping children, but there is much more work to do. Certainly, all of us pulling together can make an even greater difference. We challenge more in our community to join our cause and get involved in helping children and families."
For more information please visit www.canyonacres.org.
ABOUT CANYON ACRES
Canyon Acres Children and Family Services is committed to providing homes, care, treatment and supportive services for abused, neglected and emotionally troubled children and their families. Since 1980, Canyon Acres has been serving children throughout Southern California, providing the highest level of care and therapeutic treatment to children who suffer from a variety of emotional and psychological disorders. Canyon Acres gives children the nurturing, treatment and opportunities they need to grow up in safe, loving, and stable families. For more information about Canyon Acres Children and Family Services, contact Bock Communications at + 1-714-540-1030 or canyonacres@bockpr.com or visit the Canyon Acres Children and Family Services web site at www.canyonacres.org.