PHOENIX/ APRIL 1, 2019 – On Wednesday, April 3, some well-known names will storm Capitol Hill to raise awareness about the child abuse epidemic in the U.S. in honor of Childhelp National Day of Hope and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Five children die every day in the U.S. as a result of child abuse and neglect.
Childhelp founders Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson and other advocates from across the country will meet with members of Congress and their staffs to discuss Childhelp’s efforts in the U.S. to treat and prevent child abuse. Some of the Childhelp Celebrity Ambassadors coming to Capitol Hill Wednesday include: Broadway and television star John O’Hurley; child abuse survivor, WWE wrestler and country singer Mickie James; and noted author Crystal Hansen along with her husband Mark Victor Hansen, who co-authored the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul book series.
In addition to the individual meetings with members of Congress, Childhelp will celebrate Childhelp National Day of Hope with a breakfast hosted by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) honoring: Childhelp champions Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and First Lady Angela Ducey; CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash; syndicated print, radio and television commentator Armstrong Williams; and Fox News Channel anchor Shannon Bream. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) will be honored at an evening reception.
As the nation’s leading organization advocating for abused and neglected children, Childhelp is celebrating 60 years and 10 and a half million children served since beginning its work serving children overseas. In 1975, then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan asked O’Meara and Fedderson to focus their advocacy efforts on child abuse in the United States.
“It is tragic that despite the number of children we have served, five children die every day in the United States as a result of child abuse,” Childhelp Co-Founder and President Yvonne Fedderson said. “While we have made great advances in child welfare, economic uncertainty, drug abuse, and the cycle of abuse that repeats itself in each generation all contribute to the epidemic of abuse in America.”
“We can and must do better as a nation in focusing our attention to this problem,” Childhelp Co-Founder and CEO Sara O’Meara said. “Yvonne and I have devoted our lives to this mission and we are grateful for our supporters and volunteers across the country, including our members of Congress and elected officials who support the work we do.”