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!

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!

In recognition of this important cause, the Prevention Center’s Teen Voices, Teen Choices program is hosting an event to spread awareness amongst teens. Join us for food, fun, and activities while we talk about relationships and what love means to you. Bring your friends and/or special someone and join in the conversation!

When: Tuesday, February 28th, 4pm-6pm

Where: Chapman University’s Wallace All Faiths Chapel, One University Drive, Orange,CA 92866

To RSVP for this event or for more information on our Teen Voices,Teen Choices Program contact Susan Jaeckel at 714-824-7662 or SJaeckel@brightfutures4kids.org and read her blog!

Please click here for a downloadable flyer to pass out to your club, church or group of friends!

About Teen Voices, Teen Choices

The goal of our Teen Voices, Teen Choices program is to empower teens to realize they have the right to a healthy relationship.  It is important that programs like ours, model healthy relationship behaviors because for so many youth, they don’t know what is appropriate and what is not in a relationship.  Unfortunately, the media often portrays unhealthy relationships where one partner dominates the other or where jealousy is interpreted as a sign of love.  These portrayals are now embedded in societal definitions of “normal.”  Teens also learn behaviors from the sometimes volatile relationships they observe at home.  This is why it is important for parents and caregivers to model respect and healthy communication.

Leaving an abusive relationship can also be a very dangerous and difficult time. Only 33% of teens who were in abusive relationships ever told anyone about it. Our Teen Voices, Teen Choices program raises awareness about the realities of teen dating violence and provides insight into how one can help a friend or family member. The majority of the time, the person going through dating or domestic violence is just looking for someone to listen.  If a person does express they want help, it can be offered by way of accompanying them to report an incident or talking to a professional.  During this stage it is vital not to judge the person who you are helping or bash the other partner as this may provoke the person to become defensive and turned off to support.  Teen Voices, Teen Choices is committed to ensuring each person has the tools to utilize all available community resources.

Teen dating violence has become a prevalent part of our society.  This is illustrated by some of the recent statistics:

• 1/3 of teens will experience some type of abuse in an intimate relationship
• Young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence — almost triple the national average
• About 40% of teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 17 say they know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend
• 68% of young, female rape victims knew their rapist as a boyfriend or friend
• 1/10 of high school students have been purposefully hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend
• Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year

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.

Beginning this March, the Child Abuse Prevention Center, is establishing 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.

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.

$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.

Corporate SponsorshipIndividual SponsorshipAny Donation

2012 Members:

William Barrington

Chair Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Kings Mascot Bailey and Founder Jessica Erstad

Women from all over Orange County and Los Angeles will participate in 9-holes of hockey themed fun, while also raising funds and awareness about child abuse. This year’s event will raise funding that goes directly to the Child Abuse Prevention Center’s in-home parent education and mental health programs.

We invite you to join us for an unforgettable day of celebration and inspiration at Trump National Golf Club. There will be a live and silent auction, fabulous food and cocktails and post game award ceremony.

Sponsorships and Registration

Please review the sponsorship and ticket opportunities here. Your participation will make a difference in a child’s life forever!

Schedule of Event

1:00 p.m.  Registration

2:00 p.m.  Tee Off for Nine Holes

5:00 p.m.  – 5:30 pm. Complete Course

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Cocktails, Dinner, and Auction

For more information please contact:

Jennifer Pope at the Los Angeles Kings (310) 535-4466 or JPope@lakings.com

Barbara Casserly at the Child Abuse Prevention Center (714) 955-6530 or BCasserly@brightfutures4kids.org

 Captain Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

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

Now is your chance to turn your race into a fundraiser. Help the Prevention Center raise necessary funding for our child abuse prevention and mental health programs! It is easy. All you have to do is tell your friends and family you are running to support the Prevention Center.

Former Board Chair, Jeff Shepard, ran the 2010 Half Marathon and raised over $5,000 for the Prevention Center!

Registration is now open! After you register join our team page on Razoo to start spreading the word about your individual fundraiser. For more information on the marathon please visit: www.ocmarathon.com

Don’t want to run? We would love to have you volunteer! We need MANY volunteers on Sunday May 6th to man our water table at mile 15.

To sign up to volunteer please visit our Doodle link.

Email Lea Romo at LRomo@BrightFutures4Kids.org for more information.

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.  Guests will be greeted with a glass of their favorite wine along with delicious hors d’oeuvres, 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 and dancing.

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.  If interested please download the mail-in form.

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!