Recently, the tumultuous relationship between Chris Brown and Rihanna has garnered a great deal of media attention. It is important for youth to understand that Chris Brown and Rihanna are human beings and are not immune to domestic violence. It is also important for youth to realize that their relationship is not a healthy one. Even though they are celebrities, the violence that has occurred between them is not acceptable to anyone in any form.

Teens must recognize, that a relationship may start out wonderfully, but it can soon be filled with tension and the need to walk on eggshells around your partner.  After this period of tension will come a violent or abusive act, followed by the abuser apologizing or making excuses for their behavior.  An abuser may even try to place the blame on the victim, telling them “you asked for it” or “you made me angry.”  These excuses can make the victim believe they were at fault, and the cycle can move right back to the feeling of tension, with the victim not wanting to do anything to provoke the abuser again.  A difficult lesson for many is the fact that it is never the victim’s fault.  The way someone dresses, who they hang out with, or any additional factor  is never an excuse for violence.  Violence is a behavior chosen by that person alone and that person alone should take responsibility for their actions.  One must break this cycle of violence before it escalates or becomes life threatening.

If you or someone you know is caught in the cycle of violence, there are resources available to help.  Please contact our Teen Voices, Teen Choices program or visit www.loveisrespect.org.  You may also celebrate February Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month with us on February 28^th with free food and activities at Chapman University’s Wallace All Faiths Chapel.  Hope to see you there!

-Susan Jaeckel is the Program Coordinator for the Prevention Center’s Teen Voices, Teen Choices Program.

Abby is a single parent of three teens, who makes a modest living working in retail. She struggles daily just to make ends meet.  The home they were renting recently went into foreclosure and the initial cost of moving into a new apartment was more than she could afford. With the holiday season quickly approaching, Abby was worried she would not be able to provide her children with gifts for the holidays. I felt that they could really benefit from the Prevention Center’s Los Angeles Kings Families Helping Families event. When I told Abby that her family would be attending the event she had no idea what to expect.

For the past three years, the Los Angeles Kings hockey club has invited some of our neediest client families to participate in a day of skating, lunch, meeting the players and a gift exchange. This year the families were also invited to watch a game from three luxury suites at the Staples Center -an experience they will never forget. The players, coaches and staff adopted 25 families this year and surprised them with incredible gifts.

The following week I saw Abby for a therapy session.  The first thing Abby did was hug me tightly. With tears in her eyes, she told me how “amazing” the event was for them, and thanked me profusely for thinking of them and sending them.  The mother told me she was very worried about being able to afford Christmas gifts for her kids because she has to pay more for rent and cover the expensive costs of moving. Now, with the gifts provided, she no longer has to worry, she is covered for the holidays! She hardly had the words to say how thankful she was.  She was touched by her adopting player and his wife. Their generosity was beyond anything she could have imagined! She is eternally grateful for not only the amazing gifts, but the chance to spend quality time with her children.  Because of one hockey player’s tremendous generosity and support, one more family in Orange County will have a holiday celebration.

On behalf of my client family I thank the Los Angeles Kings Hockey Club!

HCA Therapist

Child Abuse Services Team (C.A.S.T.)

***You too can continue to support families like this over the holidays! Purchase specialty ticket packages here for the Los Angeles Kings v. Anaheim Ducks game on December 22nd. Proceeds will benefit the Child Abuse Prevention Center!

We sacrificed our Christmas to give this family theirs.  “Our” adopted family wished for the basic needs of new shoes, jackets and clothes.  Things that we take for granted.  It was such a joy to shop for “our” family.  It felt as if we were buying for our own.  We were so happy to give. We were honored to fill their needs.  Knowing we touched the lives of strangers and made their holiday joyous is a feeling you can only know by doing it yourself.

As a result, my family and friends have adopted families through Families Helping Families.  I hope many more will do the same.  The staff of The Child Abuse Prevention Center is amazing.  Former Director of Development, John Tumminello and Michelle Hodges, are so appreciative, professional and always ready to assist.  2011 will be our third year of adopting a family.  This is a tradition that I hope one day our 11 year old will continue when she has children of her own.  People should know that being blessed doesn’t mean having everything you want. To me, being blessed is being able to share with those who don’t always have everything they NEED.

Happy Holidays & Best Wishes Always,

-The Esparza, Prieto & Martinez Families

I provided parenting services to a single mother and her 14 year old daughter for 8 weeks.  Unfortunately, this young girl had a history of running away from home three to four times a week.  In addition, she was sexually abused three times by three different people. She was struggling with a variety of different issues that just made her want to run away from it all.

Over the course of a month, I worked intensively with her, discussed her goals, and addressed her reputation and how what she was doing could negatively influence her future.  She is a bright girl that wants to pave a positive path for her future. For example, one of her goals is to go to Harvard Law School.  I thought this was a wonderful goal to have!  I talked to her about how important school is, her friends and the instances of teen pregnancy and how these could adversely affect her achieving her goals.

I am thrilled to say that for the past three weeks she hasn’t run away—not even once! I asked her why she changed, and her answer was that after talking to me, she realized what she wanted to do with her life, and understood that running away wasn’t going to help. So little by little she wanted to make a change.

These small changes in someone’s life are what make my job that much more rewarding!

~Casework Specialist, In-Home Coach Program

Board Member Debashis Chowdhury with wife Laurel and their guests at the 2011 Bright Futures Celebration

Please join us for the 14th Annual Bright Futures Celebration, “Escape to Wine Country,” on Saturday May 12, 2012 at the beautiful St. Regis Monarch Beach beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Guests will be greeted with a glass of their favorite wine provided by Frog’s Leap Winery, along with delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Paul Martin Fleming, while the “Tijuana Dogs” provide musical entertainment throughout the evening.  Guests will later enjoy a fun filled silent and live auction, followed by an awards ceremony, dinner prepared by the St. Regis’s own Chef Caston, and dancing until 11:00 p.m.

The Annual Bright Futures Celebration unites Orange County business and community leaders for an evening of entertainment and giving.  Over the past 14 years, over 3,000 guests have participated in our celebrations and helped us raise critical funds to help our families and children.

2011 Bright Futures Celebration Committee Co-Chairs Jamison Luther and Lorraine Collyer

The Child Abuse Prevention Center is dedicated to serving at-risk children and families with programs that prevent and break the generational cycle of child abuse, teen pregnancy, and family violence.

There are many ways to get involved in our upcoming Bright Futures Celebration. Please consider purchasing a sponsorship or donating a live or silent auction item. Unique marketing opportunities are available.

Cocktail attire suggested. Tuxes for men and gowns for women are not necessary.

Rooms Available

Our St. Regis room block is open for reservations!  You can contact the St. Regis directly at (800) 722-1543.  You will need to request the room rate for the “Child Abuse Prevention Center.”  The overnight rate is $295 + Tax and Resort Fee.  That is a savings of $130 a night (currently for that evening…prices are going up each day)!

Committee Chair, Board Member Maria Elena Banks

Thank you to our Committee!

We would like to recognize the contributions of an incredible volunteer committee, Chaired by Board Member Maria Elena Banks and comprised of the following individuals: Katie Aguirre, Bill Blaine (Board Member), Debashis Chowdhury (Board Member), Laurel Chowdhury, Paula Janoski (Board Member), Jan Jewell (Board Member), Jamison Luther (Board Member), Helena Keeshen, Suzanne Miller, Mary O’Brien, Randy Riley (Board Member), Tony Roberts (Business Advisory Board Member), Judy Skelly, Jeff Swartz (Daly-Swartz PR), Carly Ward (Paul Martin’s Restaurant) and Jessica Fernandez (Intern).

Sponsorship and Ticket OpportunitiesAuction Information

Mail In FormsDirectionsMediaPhotos

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Sovereign Sponsor

Tregnum Sponsors

Magnum Sponsors

Standard Sponsor

Sculptures by Belle

Appetizer Sponsor

Band Sponsor

Photography

Centerpiece Sponsor

The blue ribbon has served as a reminder to end child abuse since 1989, when one grandmother made a personal commitment to wear a blue ribbon after her own grandson was killed at the hands of his mother’s abusive boyfriend. Out of her tragedy emerged the Blue Ribbon Campaign, a National and community based effort that serves as a reminder and a National symbol of the need to protect our children.

Blue Ribbon Society Co-Chairs, Jan Jewell and Bill Barrington

In March of this year, the Child Abuse Prevention Center established The Blue Ribbon Society. This group is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, the promotion of healthy families, and the wellness of children, rooted in the commitment made by a passionate grandmother over 23 years ago.  We invite you to become a member of The Blue Ribbon Society through an annual donation and proudly display a blue ribbon to end child abuse.

Please join us for our next Blue Ribbon Society event on June 14th, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. The event is an opportunity to learn more about the society and socialize with current and prospective members. Hor d’oeuvres will be provided with a no host bar.

The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort is located at 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

For more information on the Blue Ribbon Society please contact Barbara Casserly at (714) 955-6530 or BCasserly@brightfutures4kids.org

Levels of Membership

The Blue Ribbon Society Membership Includes:

• Blue Ribbon Pin
• Name/Company recognition on the Prevention Center website and newsletter
• Admission to quarterly Champion of Children networking events

$1000 corporate sponsorship

Level of membership reserved for corporations who wish to make a commitment to the prevention of child abuse. Corporate membership will receive a certificate to be displayed in the place of business.

Corporate Sponsor  

$100 individual sponsorship

Levels of membership designed for individuals, families, and small businesses that wish to make a commitment to the prevention of child abuse.

Individual Sponsor 

Any Donation

Our needs were great but thanks to our donors we were able to go above and beyond our requested amount of supplies! For this drive, we had a total of 234 K-5^th grade and 180 6-12^th grade backpacks requested by caseworkers, making a grand total of 414 requested backpacks. We received an astonishing 513 backpacks from the drive! The Center will provide the spare backpacks for our Basic Needs program that focuses on providing important household items to families in Orange County. All the other supplies such as pencils and folders were either put into the backpacks, or packed into plastic bags to be distributed to our caseworkers.

Volunteers Who Stuffed Backpacks at the Delhi Center

Thank you to the following businesses throughout Orange County that served as drop off locations: Bagels and Brew in Aliso Viejo, Lake Forrest and Mission Viejo, CVS Pharmacy in Mission Viejo, Dana Point City Hall, Dana Point Community Center, The Dragon Institute (Marital Arts Instruction), Hairmasters in Dana Point, Infiniti Mission Viejo, Mandy’s Pizza, Memorial Care Health System Fountain Valley, The Mission Viejo Library, Quake Baseball Academy, Raise the Barre Fitness, Rancho Santa Margarita Library, Ritz Cleaners, Haskell & White, Waste Management, St. Joseph’s Episcopal of Buena Park, and Toy Town.

Volunteer Boy Scouts Enjoying McDonald's Chicken Nuggets

Even though the official Back to School Drive has finished, we are always accepting donations at our Basic Needs warehouse.

Thank you to the entire Orange County Community for your generosity and support!

Board Member Bryan Howard, Co-Chairs Ed Inal and Jeff Shepard, Board Member Pat Murphy, Executive Director Scott Trotter, Board Member John Siens, Board Chair Jon Miller, and Board Member Abbas Gokal

The Prevention Center is proud to host the 11th Annual Charity Golf Classic on August 20th, 2012. This 18-hole championship tournament will be held at the gorgeous El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Niguel.  Last year, golfers enjoyed a day in the sun while raising almost $75,000 to support underserved families in Orange Country! With our continued partnership with Wells Fargo and Newport Lexus, we are looking forward to an even more successful event this year.

Now more than ever we need your support to help the children and families of Orange County.  Your participation at the 11th Annual Charity Golf Classic gives the children in our community hope for a better future.  It is with the continued support through fundraisers like these that we can work to break the generational cycle of child abuse.  For every $1 raised, $.90 cents goes directly to support programs where we can serve children who are at risk of abuse and help them grow to be better parents

Schedule:

9:00am — Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Driving Range

10:45am — Shot Gun Start

5:30pm — Cocktails, Silent Auction, and Final Round of Shoot Out

6:30pm — Awards Dinner and Live Auction

Title Sponsor

Sponsorship and Ticket OpportunitiesAuction InformationMail In Forms

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Virginia DiPaola, Tim Sandel with volunteers from Wells Fargo

Every holiday season the Prevention Center works with the community to provide holiday gifts for families in need. Individuals, businesses and community outreach groups adopted 250 of the Center’s client families, supporting the largest, client-centered program the Prevention Center offers.  Organizations and individual families provided gifts that the client families need most, such as warm blankets, clothing, and shoes.

Former Los Angeles Kings player Ryan Smyth with his wife, kids, and adopted family

Los Angeles Kings Families Helping Families

The Los Angeles Kings have participated in Families Helping Families for the last three years where players, coaches and staff adopt 30 families and invite the families to their ice rink to enjoy a day of skating, opening gifts and lunch with the players. This year, however, the Los Angeles Kings have gone beyond expectation to support the Prevention Center in a holiday fundraising campaign. Not only were 25 families invited to watch the December 3^rd game from luxury suites, where they had a large buffet lunch, received holiday gifts and met the players, but Los Angeles Kings fans may purchase specialty packages for admission to the December 22nd game against the Anaheim Ducks. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Prevention Center.  For more information click here

A happy family from our Infant Program with all the incredible gifts they received!

Ribbon Cutting

On December 17^th the Prevention Center Board of Directors, members of the Business Advisory Board and other supporters participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of Families Helping Families. An In-N-Out truck was on hand to feed 200 volunteers and Wells Fargo staff contributed valuable volunteer hours in addition to adopting almost 40 client families.

To learn more about this incredible program and the ways you can help our client families during the holidays please visit our Families Helping Families page!

A big thanks to our corporate sponsors!

Executive Director Scott Trotter and Casino Committee Chair Thomas Manakides presenting Guest Speaker with congratulatory flowers

Chef Kim from Charlie Palmer catered an array of delicious bites, including spicy lamb meatballs, roasted beet salad, and a decadent seafood gumbo.  Linda Kirkpatrick, owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes, was on hand to provide guests with mini red velvet and chocolate bundt cakes. The tremendous generosity at our Queen of Hearts Casino Night helped ensure that our programs reach all those who may benefit from our services and allow us to continue supporting the needs of our families.

To underscore the importance of the Child Abuse Prevention Center, Tiara, a former program participant, spoke courageously of her challenges. Her personal struggles as a “hotel mom”, raising her two young children, brought the audience to tears. Working together with her caseworker, she learned essential parenting skills, bonded with her two children and mended the damage her parents left behind. She is currently completing her bachelor’s degree at University of California, Irvine and strives to attend law school. She thanked the Prevention Center for the life-changing impact on her family.

Guests Lance Williams and Denise Beltran enjoying one of many Casino games

However, none of the events could have been successful without the incredible support of the Business Advisory Board Casino Night Committee, who secured in-kind donations totaling $17,500! Chaired by dedicated board member Thomas Manakides, this all volunteer committee tirelessly worked to make the Queen of Hearts Casino Night a success! We would like to recognize the contributions of the committee comprised of the following individuals: Thomas Manakides, Chair; Angela George, Co-Chair; Abbas Gokal, Co-Chair; Melissa Culp, Event Planner; Caitlin Blanche; Chuck Kiskaden; Jeff Lassiter; Bryan and Jennifer Lipinski; Keith Rodenhuis; Brad Schmitt; and Jessica Hernandez.

To view and purchase photos from the event please visit: http://www.lovphotos.com/event/CAP-Casino     50% of photography profits from the event will benefit the Prevention Center!

Thank you to our generous sponsors!