The
children’s advocacy center that will serve abused children in the 4
th
Judicial District of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier Counties, is even closer
to becoming a reality as it now has a board of directors, a name, a logo and
an official charter by the State of Tennessee.
The CAC Board
of Directors, with Donna Koester as its president, decided on the name Safe
Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc., (SHCAC) August 12. The logo, suggested by Barry Fain, was designed by Dave Barnhart of
Creative Touch Graphics in Sevier
County. The logo depicts a lighthouse shining a
beam of light into darkness to guide the lost to safety. The SafeHarbor board envisioned
something that conveys the core of their mission to serve child victims of
sexual and physical abuse and neglect.
“It is a
dark time in anyone’s life when they have been victimized by abuse, but
it is an especially dark time for children who have been victimized by sexual
abuse, physical abuse and/or neglect.
And they need someone to help them understand how to get past that
point,” said Fain.
SafeHarbor received its official charter from the state on
September 1. It has also applied for
501(c)(3) status with the IRS and will become an
established nonprofit youth
organization as soon as approval
is forthcoming by the IRS, making it eligible for several government grants
and private foundation funding.
Directors have already met with the Grainger County Commission, not
necessarily for purpose of making a financial plea, but to ask for the
support of citizens and leaders in the county.
It is well on
its way, but SafeHarbor still needs help from caring citizens of all
four counties. If you are interested
in helping this organization, please contact either Donna Koester at (865) 453-2638, or Barry Fain
at (865) 471-1898; or log on to www.SafeHarborCAC.com.
