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Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center Names Whitney Houston Child Advocate of the Year' MORRISTOWN, N.J., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center will honor Whitney Houston as its first Child Advocate of the Year at the Center's annual spring fundraising event Sunday, April 18, 1999, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Birchwood Manor. The popular singer is being honored for the support of the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, which contributed a $40,000 grant for the construction of a medical examination room in the center. The medical room is equipped with the latest forensic medical examination equipment available to assist police and prosecutors in the investigation of cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. "We are grateful for the generous support of Whitney Houston and her foundation for children, and wanted to honor her on behalf of her work with children. The Whitney Houston Foundation grant allowed us to complete this last, critical component at the Center," said Karen D. Carbonello, Director of the Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center. "The medical room combines the functionality of a hospital or doctor's office examination room with the child-friendly atmosphere that has been so successful throughout the Center." The room features a sailing and beach theme. This year's fundraiser, using the theme "Reaching New Heights," is again being held in conjunction with Victims' Rights Week. The Center also notes that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The event is designed to be more family-oriented and will feature a family brunch, games, storytelling and other activities for children, Gymbo the Clown from Gymboree, and a brief program. Georgia O'Brien, President of the Board of Trustees of the Center, said, "We have enjoyed so many successes recently at the Center, that we decided on a dynamic theme for the event, 'Reaching New Heights.' We had several suggestions about our spring fundraising events that inspired us to focus more on the children and families in our community. The response has been very gratifying, and we thank those who will be joining us on Sunday." Tickets for the fundraiser will be available at the door on Sunday. The price is $50 per person. Children age 10 and under will be admitted free. The Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center, 8 Court St., Morristown, NJ, is a child-friendly place where victims of child sexual abuse can begin to heal. In addition to housing facilities where investigators can conduct interviews of child victims and their families, the Center also offers programs in therapy, child abuse prevention, advocacy and public education. The Center opened in 1996. SOURCE The Deirdre O'Brien Child Advocacy Center. NEWSFILE: 16 APRIL 1999 |