Prevent Child Abuse Rowan honored Castaways restaurant and Judge Charlie Brown with the 2009 Kathleen Russo Friend of the Child Awards.
As part of its celebration of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the advocacy group presented the awards April 24 at the Prevention Breakfast.
The chief district court judge for Rowan County, Brown “is known for thinking outside the box for the families and agencies over which he presides to the end of better outcomes for children,” said Micah Melton Ennis, a board member for Prevent Child Abuse Rowan and Rowan County Department of Social Services foster care supervisor.
Melton said Brown often asks in court, “Couldn’t we do this?” or “Why can’t we try that?”
“And, my personal favorite, ‘Well, let’s just get them on the phone right now,’ ” she said.Brown organizes a bicycle race each year that benefits Prevent Child Abuse Rowan.
Last September, Castaways dedicated a Saturday to Prevent Child Abuse Rowan with a 5K race, children’s carnival and an oyster roast to help raise money and awareness for the advocacy group.
The event raised close to $5,000 for the organization. During the holiday season, Castaways also sponsored the Prevent Child Abuse Rowan Christmas tree at the Festival of Trees.
Luke Livengood, head chef and vice president for Castaways, accepted the award for the restaurant.
Dr. Nilous Avery, pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, gave the keynote address at the breakfast on the faith community’s role in child protection.
Other Child Abuse Prevention Month activities included:
– April 3 ó Karen Barbee organized a training and strategic planning session for the Domestic Violence Task Force. The N.C. Domestic Violence Coalition led the training.
– April 4 ó Brittany Honeycutt organized the sixth annual golf tournament. Almost 60 players participated in the event, which raised nearly $3,000. Board members Mark Wilhelm, Brian Stallings, Cindy Nimmer, Eleanor Qariah, Micah Melton Ennis, Eric Ennis, Jane Jackman, Marla Rayfield, Toi Degree, Steve Joslin, Wiley Lamm and Jill Rufty helped.
– April 16 ó Jon Hunter, coordinator of One Church One Child, brought awareness to members of Salisbury Civitans Club when he spoke to club about child abuse and neglect in Rowan County. He focused on the role of the faith community and its power to protect children from abuse or neglect.
– April 17 ó Pinwheels, the symbol for Prevent Child Abuse Rowan, were everywhere at Downtown Salisbury’s Friday Night Out and the Pinwheels for Peace promotion.
Norma Honeycutt discussed preventing child abuse and neglect, and Mayor Pro-tem Paul Woodson read the city’s Child Abuse Awareness Month Proclamation. Kennedy Kirkman, 6, sang “Candle on the Water.”
– April 23 ó Rosie Allen spoke about child abuse and neglect prevention to the Salisbury Civitans Club. She highlighted the Incredible Years program and the Nurse-Family Partnership, which help decrease child maltreatment.- April 24 ó Twenty-four community members were trained in the Stewards of Children curriculum, a seven-step plan to ending child sexual abuse.
The community service program at Kohl’s called the A-Team supported Prevent Child Abuse Rowan throughout April, providing volunteers to help staff the golf tournament, Pinwheels for Prevention, the Prevention Breakfast and Stewards of Children.
To learn more about preventing child abuse and neglect, visit www.preventchildabuserowan.org.