Foundation, First Lady of Va. Lisa Collis Honor Child Abuse Prevention Advocates

April 7, 2004 — The Freddie Mac Foundation joined Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia and the Allies in Prevention Coalition to honor five individuals for their strong commitment and exceptional efforts to stop child abuse and neglect in Northern Virginia at its second annual Allies in Prevention Awards Luncheon on April 1st. Sponsored by the Foundation, the event kicked off this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“Child abuse and neglect tears at the fabric of our community. That is why the Freddie Mac Foundation is so committed to helping families and individuals stop the cycle of abuse and neglect that exists in our region,” commented Maxine B. Baker, President and CEO, Freddie Mac Foundation. “We are pleased to support SCAN and the Allies in Prevention Coalition in fighting child abuse and neglect and applaud the efforts of those individuals who are being recognized today for their remarkable work.”

Foundation President and CEO Maxine Baker, First Lady of Virginia Lisa Collis and Child Welfare League of America President and CEO Shay Bilchik at the Allies in Prevention Awards Luncheon.

Each year, more than three million children are the victims of child abuse and neglect. In Northern Virginia alone, there were more than 7,000 children reported as abused and/or neglected in 2003.

Lisa Collis, the First Lady of Virginia and special guest at the awards luncheon, remarked, “Little is more important to the future of our Commonwealth than ensuring that all its children have a chance to grow up safe and healthy, in homes that will nurture them, physically and emotionally. SCAN's work is helping to do this. I congratulate today's honorees for their dedicated efforts to make child abuse and neglect in Virginia a thing of the past.”

For the second year in a row, the event brought together community leaders and child abuse prevention professionals from throughout Northern Virginia.

The Allies in Prevention award winners for 2004 are Chuck Berlin, Fairfax County Department of Family Services; Peggy Krogh, Loudoun Families for Children; Paul Moessner, Prince William Child Protective Partnership; Gloria Starr, Arlington County Department of Human Services; and Laurie Markon, Alexandria Domestic Violence Program.

Since 1988, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, a nonprofit agency, has been dedicated to the well-being of children, the improvement of parent-child relations and the prevention of child abuse and neglect by educating the community about the scope, nature and consequences of child abuse and neglect and the importance of positive, nurturing parenting; providing direct parent education; and advocating for children in the community, the legislature and the courts.

For more information about child abuse prevention and neglect, please visit the SCAN Web site.

Read tips on parenting and preventing child abuse.