Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center (TBCAC) has taken its annual Circle of Friends fundraiser online. In lieu of its annual luncheon, TBCAC is conducting its first-ever peer-to-peer virtual fundraising campaign and inviting the community to support TBCAC’s efforts to protect children in the Traverse Bay Region from sexual abuse, physical abuse and acts of violence. One week remains for people to join the circle and help raise $40,000 to meet the $100,000 campaign goal by September 30. To make a gift, visit the TBCAC website or use the link below.
“This pandemic has underscored the fact that home isn’t a safe place for everyone,” says Ginger Kadlec, TBCAC’s interim executive director. “Since March, we have seen a drastic increase in the number of severe physical child abuse cases, as well as more children witnessing domestic violence and other violent acts … now more than ever, children in our community need the protection and healing services of TBCAC.”
In the past five years, demand for TBCAC intervention services has increased by 300%. The Center is currently undergoing a building expansion and renovation in order to meet this increased demand—at its current rate of growth, demand for TBCAC services is expected to double by 2024.
“Our annual Circle of Friends event accounts for nearly 25% of total donations we receive from caring individuals and organizations throughout our community,” Kadlec adds. “Thanks to their generous support, TBCAC is able to offer all of our services, including child forensic interviews, family advocacy support and follow-up counseling and therapy services, free to all child victims of abuse and non-offending family members who visit our center, for as long as they need our support.”
Donations of varying amounts have a direct impact on child victims of abuse:
- $25 helps provide an assortment of “miniatures” (toys) used in sand tray therapy with child abuse victims
- $100 helps provide a 1:1 counseling session for an abused teen with a licensed TBCAC staff therapist
- $500 helps provide a child forensic interview for a child who has been sexually or physically abused, or who has witnessed acts of violence
- $5,000 helps train 250 student athletes about sexual abuse prevention through TBCAC’s SafeTeam™ program
Donate to the 2020 Virtual Circle of Friends. Donations can also be made by texting POWEROF10 to 44-321.