The
Safe Harbor
Child Advocacy
Center held its first
ever major fundraising event, “Raisin’ the Roof”, on June 9
th
at the Music Road Hotel & Convention Center. And, the crowd turned
out in mass. The banquet facility was seated at almost capacity with a
crowd ranging from longtime
Safe
Harbor supporters to
those that have only recently learned of the organization’s work
serving child-victims of severe abuse in
Jefferson
and the other three counties of the Fourth Judicial District.
Coach Pat Summitt, head coach of the Tennessee Lady
Volunteer’s basketball team, served as guest speaker of the
evening’s event and was joined by Jay Adams of Mix 105.5FM as the
master of ceremonies. Between the silent auction, live auction, table
sales and corporate/private sponsorships of the event, the Safe Harbor
Child Advocacy
Center raised over
$60,000 to begin building the first state-of-the-art facility to provide forensic interviews, forensic medical
exams, counseling and education services for child-victims of severe abuse in
Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties and their non-offending family
members.
“We had a
great turnout and a great time”, states Barry
Fain, a charter member and president of Safe Harbor’s
board of directors. “Coach Summitt gave
a heartfelt presentation to our audience. But, I think Collin Raye’s video was the real attention
getter.” The Eleventh Commandment is a specially produced music video by Collin Raye
depicting the severe impact of abuse on children in our society, ranging from
sexual abuse to severe physical abuse and neglect.
“Collin Raye’s video really speaks to its viewers”,
interjects Arthur Bohanan, a
charter member of Safe
Harbor’s board of
directors and nationally recognized forensics expert. “I saw
several eyes welling up with tears in the audience, as the video concluded
and Coach Summitt prepared to address the crowd.”
“We are
extremely grateful that Judge Strand and other representatives from Jefferson County were able to join us for the
evening”, says Donna Koester, a charter member and executive director
for Safe Harbor. “Judge Strand and
the other judges in our district have been extremely supportive of our
efforts to help child-victims of abuse in our four county district.”
The “Raisin’
the Roof” gala to benefit Safe Harbor was jointly sponsored by:
Apple Valley Comfort Inn; Black Bear Jamboree Chef’s Catering; Jim
& Kati Blalock; Burchfiel-Overbay Associates;
Citizens National Bank; Colonial Real Estate; Gary Woods Photography; Mix
105.5; The Mountain Press; Music Road Hotel & Convention Center; Natural
Kneads Therapeutic Massage; Riverside Towers; Sevier County Bank; Sevier
County Bar Association; Thompson-Carr; Tom & Diandra
Trotter; and Williams Heating & Air.
To learn more
about the Safe Harbor Child
Advocacy Center,
contact their executive director, Donna Koester, by phone at (865) 453-2638
or e-mail at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. More information is also
available on the organization’s website at www.SafeHarborCAC.com.
Safe Harbor is continually looking for
volunteers with various talents and gifts to help meet the non-profit’s mission serving child-victims of
severe abuse in Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties.
Statistics indicate that jurisdictions with a functioning child advocacy
center typically have higher rates of prosecution
for perpetrators with longer sentences being served.
