Cheryl Beene's Fundraiser

For Healing Hearts Board Member Team , a team supporting:

Help us Heal one Heart at a Time

 

40%

funded

$200

raised

$500

goal

2

donors

0

days left

Cheryl Beene

It only took one conversation with Ashley Schacterle several years ago to convince me that DeSoto County, even as progressive and educated as it was, did not meet the needs of abused children. Because children had to tell their stories over and over to various people and agencies, valuable time and evidence was lost in their cases of suspected abuse. Even though I dedicated my teaching career to helping children meet their potential, I never realized that this weakness in our protection system existed. With the creation of Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center, we now have a multidisciplinary team including law enforcement, the district attorney's office, DHS, and medical professionals coordinated through the CAC to identify, investigate and prosecute child predators. The children of suspected abuse are videoed as they participate in a forensic interview in a place set up to help them feel safe and secure and that video becomes important evidence in the child's case. These children are offered support and counseling also through the CAC. Please join me in supporting this worthy non-profit agency which protects the innocent children of our community.

About this Campaign

Cheryl Beene

Give a voice to the bravest children.

Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center....Anna, The real story.

 (Names and identifying information has been changed to protect confidentiality)

Meet "Anna".  Anna is five years old and was sexually abused by one of her caretakers, in our community of DeSoto County.  When Anna shared that she had been abused, her abuser was unable to be prosecuted.  Her story haunted me!  I couldn't forget about Anna, even though I saw hundreds of children like her in my private practice.  The system that was designed to protect her was broken.  Anna asked me, "Why did he get away with it?"  and I didn't have an answer for her. After Anna I decided there was more that could be done to fight child abuse and fight for our children.  In 2013 Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center began providing services to victims of child abuse and their families.  With your support, we have helped our police departments, detectives, district attorneys and DFCS work together as a team to get our children justice.

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be the victim of sexual abuse before their 18th birthday.  Child abuse is not a topic anyone likes to talk about but child abuse is happening in every community, our community.  EVERYONE knows someone that has been abused even if you don't know their story.  It takes a whole community to fight child abuse and keep our children safe. 

Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center is making a difference in the lives of children.  Child abuse cases presented to the grand jury have gone up 400%, perpetrators are getting longer prison sentences and the children are receiving services to help them heal.  

I made a promise to Anna that I would do everything I could to fight for children like her, help protect them and hold the people that hurt them accountable.  Help Healing Hearts Child Advocacy Center fulfill that promise and show your commitment to fighting child abuse by giving today.  Please give generously today.  Every penny will help. Anna is counting on you.  We cannot fail her again.   

Ashley Schachterle, Executive Director


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