The Heritage Community Foundation presented a $2,500 grant Aug. 17 to Raise Me Up Foundation, Inc. executive director Priti Griffin.
The grant will be used by Raise Me Up to purchase 250 workbooks for its Darkness to Light “Stewards of Children” initiative. The sole mission of this program is to engage the entire community in a relentless effort to reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse through public awareness and education.
aise Me Up’s goal is to train an additional 500 adults and increase its team of facilitators to five dedicated adults before January 2017. The 250 workbooks to be purchased with the grant money will move Raise Me Up closer to this goal.
Raise Me Up is a 501(c)(3) organization that strives to prevent the sexual abuse of children. Statistics show 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Instead of responding to the issue with fear and denial, Raise Me Up encourages adults to educate themselves about the issue and actively employ policies and procedures that promote prevention.
Darkness to Light “Stewards of Children” is a facilitator-led training that specifically educates adults on how to recognize and avoid situations in which abuse generally occurs. Adults are also trained on how to recognize signs of abuse and responsibly report to the Department of Family and Children Services.
Additionally, Raise Me Up offers supportive training modules such as Healthy Touch, Bystanders Protecting Children, Age Appropriate Discussions with Children about Safety, and Prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). Since the initiative began in 2013, they have trained 1,472 adults. Local organizations chosen for training include the Henry County Board of Education, Sheriff’s Office, Office of District Attorney, Police Department and Juvenile Court System.
For more information on how to apply for a grant with Heritage Community Foundation, make a donation or volunteer, visit www.heritagecommunityfoundation.org or contact executive director Rocky Davis at 770-478-8881.
On the front row, from left: Audrey Lynch (Tax Supervisor, Whaley Hammonds Tomasello), Stacy Hammons (HCF), Luann Daniels (HCF), Priti Griffin (Executive Director, Raise Me Up Foundation), Sheri Dockweiler (HCF).
Back row, from left: Dr. Rochon Hester (District Lead Counselor, Henry County Schools), Nicholas Craig (Realtor, Southside Realtors), Rocky Davis (HCF), Jenny Smith (HCF), Pamela Cisneros (HCF).
