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

If you are driving around Fort Bend County, you might notice a lot of blue in the landscape these days. Child Advocates of Fort Bend, the Fort Bend County Child Welfare Board and Exchange Club of Sugar Land have joined forces to blanket the county in blue this April for Child Abuse Prevention Month. On Friday, April 4 Child Advocates of Fort Bend kicked off April National Child Abuse Prevention Month with their annual Light of Hope Ceremony with help from the Fort Bend County Child Welfare Board, Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Friends of Child Advocates of Fort Bend and Cameron and Nicole Hill.

Child Advocates Hosts Annual Light of Hope Ceremony

Sugar Land City Councilman Joe Zimmerman made the opening remarks for the ceremony which featured the unveiling of a community made blue ribbon quilt and inspirational songs by local recording artist Debbie Fancher. County Judge Robert Hebert was the emcee. Child Advocates of Fort Bend Board President Brigit Engleman read the historical story of the meaning of the blue ribbon. Exchange Club member Kevin Barker and Sugar Land Skeeters Mascot Mo lead the crowd in a cheer- “There’s no excuse for child abuse”.

More than 250 area Girl Scouts participated in the ceremony. The Scouts created thousands of blue friendship bracelets for the ceremony. They kept some to distribute to their friends and brought the rest to be distributed at the ceremony and throughout the month of April. The event kicked off a 30 day child abuse awareness campaign. Everyone was encouraged to follow the agency’s Facebook page to learn more about child abuse and how they can help end abuse.

Although child abuse knows no season, April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Some of the ways to participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month include wearing a blue ribbon, helping to pass out blue ribbons, posting child abuse prevention materials in your office or place of business and inviting Child Advocates of Fort Bend to talk to your group about child abuse. For more information, call 281-341-9955 or go to www.cafb.org.

About Child Advocates of Fort Bend:

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is a non-profit agency dedicated to ending child abuse by providing a voice, healing the hurt, and breaking the cycle of child abuse in Fort Bend County. Through its Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASATM), Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and more than 200 trained community volunteer advocates, Child Advocates improves the lives of more than 400 children each month and has served more than 10,600 children since opening its doors in 1991.

For more information on how you can become a voice for children and get involved with Child Advocates of Fort Bend, contact Casey Davis at 281-344-5172 or cdavis@cafb.org or log onto www.cafb.org.

The agency’s annual gala and auction raises much needed funds to support its programs for abused and neglected children. This year’s gala – The Cinderella Ball will be held May 3, at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. To attend the Gala, become a sponsor or for more information, go to http://www.cafb.org/Events/Gala-for-the-Children/ or contact Lisa Moore at 281-344-5108 or lmoore@cafb.org.