Blog

Thanks to everyone who attended Tuesday’s Family & Children’s Place Louisville Child Abuse Prevention Breakfast! And thanks for demonstrating your commitment to safeguarding children against violence, abuse, and neglect.

More than 250 guests enjoyed a hot breakfast at the Mellwood Arts Center, and heard about agency programs and progress from Pam Darnall, Family & Children’s Place president and CEO.

We were honored to host state Reps. Attica Scott and Jerry Miller, state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell, and Metro Council Members Barbara Sexton Smith, Pat Mulvihill and Bill Hollander.

We were happy to have Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear join us, too, to speak about his office’s efforts against child abuse and human trafficking.

A special thank you to Lindsay Allen, anchor at WDRB-TV, for emceeing her second year and for showing such a caring commitment to ending child abuse and to the agency.

We were pleased to award four Gold Medals: the Mary Beth Doheny Volunteer Award to Shannon Siders, a former Ambassador and volunteer; the Partnership Award to Brown-Forman, a longtime partner; the Individual Donor Award to Wakely Purple, a volunteer, supporter and friend; and the Community Impact Award to Kosair Charities for its partnership, friendship and support.

Bill Stangel, a Jefferson County Public Schools teacher and survivor of abuse, talking about the abuse he endured and how it helped shape him into the man he is today – a father, son, brother, husband, coach, mentor and more.

Larissa Reece, the new vice president of Development for Family & Children’s Place, talked about the significant increases the community is seeing in opioid abuse and violence, and how these issues impact and affect the mental, emotional and physical safety of children. And why programs such as those provided by the agency are needed now more than ever.

Thanks to everyone for committing to safeguard and heal children, and for supporting the life changing and saving work of Family & Children’s Place.