LANCASTER – As a new “pathway” to support the Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley in its battle against child abuse, the center has established an ongoing legacy brick donation program called “Follow the Yellow Brick Road.”
The first set of bricks that line the entrance of the building are made up of generous brick donations, with the names of the donors permanently engraved on each brick. The goal is to eventually cover the entire front entrance and walkway with bricks donated by Children’s Center supporters.
“We started this program as a way to give back to our exceptional donors and as a way to encourage others to consider donating,” says Sue Page, executive director of the Children’s Center. “For a relatively small donation, donors will have a brick laid in front of our center with their name on it, forever commemorating their generosity. Without our donors, we simply could not keep going so it is only fitting that they are honored in this grand and permanent way.”
Donations to The Children’s Center, a non-profit organization, help provide services that are needed urgently, as child abuse is on the rise in the Antelope Valley.
This year, more than 880 children were reported to be victims of child abuse or neglect in the Antelope Valley, according to the Department of Children and Family Services. That is a 24% increase since 2005. Also, there are currently over 3,600 open cases of suspected child abuse in the Antelope Valley. This crisis is growing and the Children’s Center aims to fight it, one child at a time, but needs the donations to do it.
The center provides a wide range of services for victims of child abuse and their families. They include but are not limited to: treating victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; providing therapy for children who suffered trauma; helping to assess and manage children’s clinical problems; and helping to strengthen and maintain families through in-home support, both in English and Spanish. While their services and commitment have made a difference in the community, they, like all non-profit organizations, are limited to the amount of resources they can afford.
To purchase a brick or for more information on the Children’s Center, call 661-949-1206 or visit to www.childrenscenter.av.org.
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Jethro Pitlicker says
If you think there is a problem with DCFS ignoring child abuse in the AV, here’s a newsflash: This place is just as bad, if not worse.
Heartbroken says
I know that this is off subject of the personalized bricks for donors….. But please please please can u make some permanent engravement for little Gabriel Fernandez?!!! He is the shining light that touched my heart to fight the good fight for these precious babies. Please honor his legacy!!!! His story is an extreme case of child abuse, and one that will forever touch the hearts of loving, caring people.