press release - Isabel`s House

PRESS RELEASE
Local Agencies Challenge the Community to GO BLUE
in April for Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Kory Wilcox
Community Liaison
Isabel’s House
koryw@isabelshouse.org
Holly Beadle
Executive Director
Isabel’s House
hollyb@isabelshouse.org
ABOUT ISABEL’S HOUSE
Isabel’s House, where children
are loved and families are
supported, operates 24/7/365
providing immediate refuge for
children ages birth to 12 years
whose families are in crisis. By
partnering with families and the
community, the team at Isabel’s
House works to strengthen
families and prevent child abuse
and neglect – an ongoing red-flag
issue in our area. Since opening
its doors in 2007, Isabel’s House
has served over 3,400 children
and 1,750 families. Today, with
community-wide support for
strong families, Isabel’s House
remains uniquely positioned to
care for children while offering
families with the help and hope
needed to move beyond a crisis.
ISABEL’S HOUSE
2750 West Bennett
Springfield, MO 65802
417-865-CARE (2273)
isabel@isabelshouse.org
www.isabelshouse.org
Springfield, MO, March 25, 2016 – Isabel’s House, Child Advocacy Center,
The Victim Center, and CASA of Southwest Missouri are proud to promote
National Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month this April with a full
calendar of events and awareness initiatives designed to engage the
community and spark a dialogue about the ongoing red-flag issue of child
abuse and neglect facing our region.
“During April, we are asking our whole community to understand this red
flag and make a commitment to GO BLUE,” says Kory Wilcox, Community
Liaison at Isabel’s House, “Nationally, blue stands for prevention. Locally,
when individuals and organizations commit to GO BLUE, they take are giving
a voice to the most vulnerable children and families in our community and
encouraging everyone to open their eyes and find a way to help.”
Helping can be as easy as wearing blue to raise awareness on April 8th, the
official statewide GO BLUE day. “We also can’t underestimate the power of
social media,” says Wilcox, “Isabel’s House has commissioned the
#DressBlue hashtag to encourage people to show their blue online anytime
in April – but especially on April 8th.” Many area businesses and other
groups will offer “buy-in days” during April, encouraging participants to pay
for the opportunity to wear jeans or wear blue, and pledging the funds
raised to local agencies that help kids.
Springfield is home to a number of unique non-profits giving assistance and
care to families and children who are especially at-risk:
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Isabel’s House provides immediate, 24/7 shelter and care for kids
and support for families who are facing a crisis.
The Victim Center offers prevention education, counseling and
intervention for families who are victims of violent crimes or abuse.
Child Advocacy Center helps children in the midst of abuse and
neglect investigations to ensure the needs of the child come first.
CASA advocates for children who are navigating the state foster
care system during and following cases of abuse or neglect.
“April is a special opportunity for our community to stake a claim in the
wellbeing of every child and commit to caring for our kids at every turn.”
106.7 The River and Lamar Advertising have stepped up to help issue the
challenge to GO BLUE, and several other GO BLUE initiatives are in-play for
April, including #PlantBlue “Pinwheels for Prevention®” Gardens on the
grounds of Mercy; Cox South; Springfield Catholic High School; and Tolbert
Beadle & Musgrave. Springfield City Hall, Mercy, and Cox South will also
#ShineBlue by lighting their buildings blue in April for Child Abuse & Neglect
Prevention, and PriceCutter stores, Houlihan’s, Macadoodles of Republic,
and Hurts Donut will encourage customers to #GiveBlue by purchasing
Isabel’s House “Hope Butterflies.”
A wider listing of events, contacts, and participating organizations follows
this release and will be updated regularly at http://j.mp/aprilgoblue.
media contact
media contact
media contact
Executive Director
batchison@casaswmo.org
417.864.6202
Executive Director
hollyb@isabelshouse.org
417.865.2273
Executive Director
bbartel@thevictimcenter.org
417.864.7233
Beth Atchison
Holly Beadle
Brandi Bartel
media contact
Barbara Brown-Johnson
Executive Director
barbara@childadvocacycenter.org
417.831.2327
APRIL CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT PREVENTION MONTH
FRIDAY, APRIL 1
TUESDAY, APRIL 19
Breakfast for Legislators
The Victim Center “Breakfast of Hope” Fund Raiser
“Pinwheels for Prevention®” Garden Planting Events
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
7:30am @ Isabel’s House · www.isabelshouse.org
tba @ Mercy (National at Sunshine)
media contact: Sonya Kullmann, 417.820.2426
tba @ Cox South (National at Primrose)
media contact: Kaitlyn McConnell, 417.269.4113
tba @ Tolbert Beadle & Musgrave (3010 E. Battlefield)
media contact: Bill Beadle, 417.887.3010
7:30am @ University Plaza · tickets: www.thevictimcenter.org
Child Advocacy Center “Burgers & Cheers” Fund Raiser
5:00pm @ Ebbet’s Field · tickets: www.childadvocacycenter.org
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Isabel’s House Springfield Cardinals GOBLUE Night
7:00pm @ Hammons Field · tickets: www.isabelshouse.org
tba @ Catholic High School (2340 S. Eastgate)
media contact: Jeanne Skahan, 417.865.5567 x 13
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
MONDAY, APRIL 4
9:00am-12:00pm @ Isabel’s House · www.isabelshouse.org
Community Event: Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention
Month and Go Blue Proclamation
9:30am - Greene County Commission (933 N. Robberson)
www.greenecountymo.org/commission
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
Statewide Event: “Go Blue Day”
All Day @ Everywhere. Please encourage everyone you know to
#DressBlue and stand up for kids! · www.ctf4kids.org
Community Event: Professor Robert Putnam presents
“Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis”
12:00pm @ Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts
publicaffairs.missouristate.edu/conference
MONDAY, APRIL 11
Community Event: Victim’s Memorial Garden Ceremony
6:30pm @ Phelps Grove Park · www.springfieldmo.gov
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13
Isabel’s House Junior Board Dodgeball Touranment
6:30pm @ Catholic High School · www.isabelshouse.org
SATURDAY, APRIL 16
Isabel’s House #ShopBlue Shopping Day
All Day @ Participating Locations · www.isabelshouse.org
Isabel’s House Community Tour Day
TUESDAY, MAY 3
Community Event: #GiveOzarks Day
All Day @ Everywhere. Please support your local agencies helping
kids in our community · register now at www.giveozarks.org
GOBLUE Local Initiatives & Participants
#ShineBlue | Springfield City Hall · Cox South · Mercy · Lamar
Advertising · Hurts Donut · Enterprise Office Center (Shaw,
Faulkner & Werner Financial Group; Sanford, Lea & Associates; James
E. Miller, P.C., Christopher M. Miller & Alison L. Miller; Kelly Dental;
Jason Shaffer Law Office) · Pioneer Outdoor Advertising
#GiveBlue | PriceCutter Stores · Hurts Donut · Houlihan’s ·
Macadoodle’s Republic · Fazoli’s · Shaw, Faulkner & Werner
Financial Group
#PlantBlue | Mercy · Cox South · SCHS · TBM Law Firm ·
Great Game of Business · WPVS/All Pet Supplies · NewStream
Enterprises · Shaw, Faulkner & Werner Financial Group ·
Fazoli’s · BKD, LLC
#DressBlue | Parkcrest Dental Group · The Doula
Foundation · Two Men and a Truck · SRC Holdings · SCHS ·
BKD, LLC · Greene County · KPM CPAs & Advisors · Bank of
Missouri · United Way · Commerce Bank
#ShopBlue | Houlihan’s · Fazoli’s
Media & Promotions Partners | 106.7 The River · Lamar
Advertising · First Impressions Printing · SignPro
Last updated 03-25-2016