EVENTS
Just For Kids Child Advocacy Center is delighted to announce the ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of “Trudy’s House,” the Center’s new home at 611 N. Kanawha, on Friday evening, May 27th at 5:30 pm. The Dedication will be in coordination with the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber Business After Hours.
Just For Kids, Inc. recently purchased the site the historic “Ambrosia Inn” as our headquarters. We are naming the house in honor of the late Trudy Laurenson, Assistant Director of Just For Kids and a pioneer in the child advocacy movement in West Virginia. The Board of Directors of Just For Kids was made aware of recent studies highlighting the difficulties for abused children when having to enter commercial spaces, spaces without windows and/or requiring the use of elevators. With those realizations in hand, the Board committed to find a new home that might create a welcoming environment for children to tell their story and to bring a face to the issue of child abuse. The Ambrosia Inn seemed the perfect location to create a Beacon on the Hill for the children and families who need us and for the teams who serve them.
Our event will involve a reception, a dedication ceremony, a ribbon cutting, and an update on the Trudy’s House Capital Campaign that began last month. The campaign is to raise funds to pay off the debt of purchase and to create a fund for the maintenance of this historic property. Ways in which individuals and businesses in the community can the campaign are purchasing engraved bricks, participating in our “pinwheel wall” of donors, naming a room after a family, business or loved one, or a simple dollar donation. All of these options will be on display at the dedication event and are available on our website.
Please join us in our dedication of Trudy’s House to tour our Beacon on The Hill, meet our Just For Kids team and help us celebrate the hope and future for the children we serve.
2022 Champions of Children Gala
Just For Kids Child Advocacy Center is hosting their annual Champions of Children Gala on Friday, April 22 at Tamarack Convention Center. The event is a celebratory dinner, beginning at 5:30 pm, honoring local heroes who are often not recognized for their devotion to serving children and families. Come out and honor these heroes and support the work of Just For Kids in reducing trauma for children who are victims of all forms of abuse. Tickets are $75 per person. Discounted tickets are $35 and available for first responders and those working with children. Tables seating 8 can be reserved for $500. Tickets must be reserved by April 19th.
Click here to reserve your tickets online or call our office at 304-992-9434. Tickets will be held at the door. This year’s Champions of Children are:
Benjamin Hatfield, Prosecuting Attorney for Raleigh County. Ben’s leadership and commitment to protecting children has significantly impacted positive outcomes for all the children of Raleigh County;
Amber Higgins, Survivor of child sexual abuse, Public Speaker to children, and Domestic Violence Advocate. Amber’s courage to tell her story stands as a beacon of hope for all survivor;
Mike Bone, Founder of Warm Hands from Warm Hearts in Fayette County. Mike provides clothing and food to the most vulnerable children and families in Fayette County;
and, Jordan Legg, Senior Minister with Grandview Christian Church. Grandview Christian Church has been a dedicated monthly donor for over 10 years. Support from the faith community is vital to our work in so many ways. Grandview Church exemplifies the caring and support of our community.
Calendar of Events for April: National Child Abuse Prevention Mont
- April 1st : Wear Blue to Work day: Wear Blue and talk to a friend about the work of Child Advocacy Centers
10 a.m. Raleigh County Plant-a-Pinwheel Ceremony: Mayor Rob Rappold will read a proclamation and children plant pinwheels at Beckley Mayor’s Office- 409 S. Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV
1 p.m. Fayette County Plant-a-Pinwheel Ceremony: Mayor Daniel Wright will read proclamation, unveiling our newest statue installation by WV Sculptor Jamie Lester, entitled “Balance” at JFK’s Lessman House, 341 Jones Avenue, Oak Hill, WV
- April 16th: Easter Fun Hike with Just For Kids. At 9 a.m. we will meet at Beckley Youth Museum, 509 Ewart Avenue, and go on an Easter Egg Hunting Hike. Cost is $5 donation per family.
- April 22nd: Champions of Children GALA. Join us for an evening to celebrate local heroes who work with children. 5:30 pm, located at Tamarack Conference Center. Tickets are $75 per person, $35 for First Responders or those who work with children. To buy tickets, call us at (304) 255-4834, email us at info@jfkwv.com, make checks payable to: Just For Kids, and mail to 611 North Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV. Or you can purchase tickets through PayPal online: Purchase online here.
- April 30th: Trudy Laurenson’s Memorial: Mother of the Child Advocacy Movement. 1 p.m. Located at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg
Outreach Advocate offers Stewards of Children Training
Since September of 2021, our Outreach Advocate has been attending nursing schools to train students on how to identify and respond to child sexual abuse as a professional in the medical field. The Stewards of Children Training is a nationally accredited training used by professionals across the country to educate adults who work with children on child sexual abuse prevention & awareness using real people with real stories.
Left: Students from the Bluefield College Nursing Program
If you or someone you know would like to receive the Stewards of Children Training, please contact our Outreach Advocate, Kayla Morey, at info@jfkwv.com or call the office at 304-255-4834.
National Children’s Alliance visits Just For Kids
Just For Kids has recently become reaccredited by the National Children’s Alliance. The reaccreditation process is a necessary and rigorous process of meeting standards required by the National Children’s Alliance to verify the Child’s Advocacy Center follows the model designed for the wellbeing of abused children and their families.
Reaccreditation is important for a CAC for many reasons: it ensures that the support we give children is better, it offers CACs more funding & support opportunities, it allows our
staff to belong to a movement, we are offered training, technical, and management resources, and it provides our center with the necessary policies and advocacy resources so that our staff is trained, supported, and guided through the often difficult process of helping children in crisis.
We are grateful for the opportunity to represent child advocacy work in the great mountain state, and we look forward to serving our community with the best possible outcome.
COVID-19 Pandemic Update
Just For Kids Child Advocacy Center is still working hard, on the front lines, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of our scheduled events for the past 2 years have had to be put on hold. We are hoping to return to our normal event schedule with our Champions of Children Gala in the Spring 2022 with more exciting news on the way!
Stay Safe!
2021 Just For Kids Golf Classic
The Just For Kids Golf Classic held at Glade Springs on Friday, August 20, 2021 was a huge success!
Twenty-six teams competed in the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Flights.
Just For Kids Board President, Marcy Nolan, welcomed all the players and talked about how everyone’s support is essential for Just For Kids to do its important work. We are grateful for the support of our Tournament and Title sponsors: Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Chapels, Mr. and Mrs. Hans Carstensen, and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Serbinski, Hometown Kia for the Hole-in-One sponsorship, our Gold and Platinum Sponsors: A2 Tent Rentals, Jan Allen & Judy Street, Bypass Pharmacy, Dr. Steve Childress DDS, Green River Garden Center, Rick & Stoya Lay, Tom & Sally Lemke, Pat & Rick Macak, New River Health, John & Linda Stroud, Tamarack, The Real Housewives of Glade Springs, Jerry & Glenda Wait, Mary & Bill Lee, Lissa Mohler & Marcy Nolan, Karen & David Rainey, Tali & John Stepp, WV Orthapedic Trauma, Sue Rice & Elke Falkenberg, Dr. L. Faith Payne and Raleigh General Hospital, and all the other sponsors who helped raise over $77,000 for Just For Kids (see the photo with all the sponsors listed). We would also like to thank the Golf Committee, chaired by Stoya and Rick Lay, all of the volunteers, Matt Felber, Director of Golf at Woodhaven, and his staff, who did an exceptional job of keeping play flowing and going above and beyond to assist all of the players.
The winners:
Closest to the pin: Bob Butsch and Bill Lee
Longest Drive: Doss Howell and Lauren Ramsey
Women’s Flight: Karen Rainey, Caroline Ramsey, Lauren Ramsey, and Marla Bass.
Mixed Flight: Bill Lee, Mary Lee, Rick Lay, Mary Fulbright
Men’s Flight: Andy Thymius, Dr. John Tabit, Doss Howell, Dr. John Tabit
We also recognized Tom Cushman who hit a hole-in-one on the par three 8th hole, the first hole-in-one recorded in the ten year history of our tournament.
Join us next year?
Click the link below for an overview of our day in the sun having fun!
Cyber Safety Workshop for Parents PART 2
Special guest West Virginia State Trooper First Class Jillian Yeager serves on the West Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. With her years of experience in the field, you don’t want to miss hearing the facts and information she will share. This workshop will focus on parents’ concerns about Internet safety and address topics like online predators, sexting, and cyberbullying. Parents will learn what to do if they suspect someone is trying to harm their child. Trooper Yeager will share tips on monitoring kids’ online activities and how to talk with kids about their online behavior. Learn how police respond to digital abuse and how parents should react too. Watch the recording of the Cyber Safety Workshop for Parents Part 2 below.