Prevention of Child Abuse Supported by Exchange Club of Sugar Land

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The Exchange Club of Sugar Land (ECSL), in support of the National Exchange Club’s nationwide project The Prevention of Child Abuse, made a $16,570 donation to Child Advocates of Fort Bend on March 26th. Judge Robert Kern, ECSL President, presented the donation to Ruthanne Mefford, Executive Director of Child Advocates of Fort Bend, which provides direction for several programs within Fort Bend County including CASA™ (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

ECSL donated $10,000 to the Fort Bend County Women’s Center, $1,000 to Hope for Three “Strike Out Autism” and $1,000 to SIRE, a therapeutic horseback riding program for special needs children. These latest donations continue Exchange Club’s long-term commitment to making Fort Bend County safer for our children and families.

Throughout April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, ECSL held blue ribbon competitions at local schools and tied blue ribbons to remind the community of our collective responsibility to prevent and confront all forms of child abuse and neglect. This Blue Ribbon Campaign began in 1989 when Bonnie Finney of Norfolk, VA tied a symbolic blue ribbon to her car to represent the bruises on her grandson who died after being abused by her mother’s partner.

Exchange Clubs across the nation sponsor activities to promote the prevention of child abuse, development of youth, Americanism and community service. For more information, visit www.ecsl.org.