April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. In celebration, SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, along with the Cobb County Safety Village and Radio Disney, will be hosting SafePath’s “Safety Rules Rule,” Family Fun Day.

This event will be held on April 20th from 10am to noon at the Cobb Safety Village, located at 1220 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta, GA 30008. This event is free and open to the community.

Join SafePath’s prevention initiative by learning the “8 Rules of Safety.” Be  entertained by Radio Disney’s live DJ, enjoy fun Radio Disney prizes and more. This event will provide a fun-filled and positively impacting experience, which children and families are sure to enjoy!

SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, a private non-profit organization located in Cobb County, provides services to victims of child abuse. For more information call the center at (770)801-3465 or visit www.safepath.org.
 

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Bob, left, and Judi Snelson meet with Reynold and Patsy Jennings, all SafePath committee chairs, at the SafePath office. On March 9, SafePath hosts its 12th annual Hearing Children’s Voices Gala at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
Emily Barnes

The echoes of child abuse can be heard throughout our community. SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center creates hope, safety and a brighter tomorrow for children. On March 9, SafePath hosts its 12th annual Hearing Children’s Voices Gala at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

Proceeds from the black-tie optional event benefit SafePath, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives of children who are abused. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a Cocktail Reception followed by Dinner and Program at 7 p.m. Nickolas Smith, whose story of courage was recently featured on 20/20, is this year’s award recipient.

Smith was stabbed 18 times in 1995 and his mother, Karmen Smith, was found murdered in their home in east Cobb. Waseem Daker, who was convicted of stalking Smith’s roommate, was found guilty last year of the murder of Karmen Smith and attack on Nickolas Smith. Smith is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia.

Located at 736 Whitlock Ave., Suite 600 in Marietta, SafePath provides a non-threatening centralized location where members of the community provide support and services to children who are victims of child abuse and non-offending caregivers. SafePath provides professionals and agencies for a multi-disciplinary team approach to child abuse cases.

“The fundraiser is very important in order for SafePath to have the funds to ensure that a child and family in need has a facility that offers a comprehensive, professional and child-friendly approach in reducing the terrible trauma the children and their families are going through,” said Judi Snelson who co-chairs the event with her husband, Bob, and Patsy and Reynold Jennings.

“I have stayed involved (with SafePath) because of my love for all children and their need to be loved and free of abuse,” the retired educator said.

Snelson, a Marietta resident, has two adult children, Robert Snelson and Katie Gaudette, and five grandchildren ages 4 to 14. She has volunteered with SafePath for five years.

Snelson said that every 10 seconds a report of child abuse is made, five children die every day as a result of child abuse and 3 out of 4 child abuse victims are under the age of 4. One in five children will be a victim of abuse by the age of 18.

“These are a few facts that overwhelm me and breaks my heart. It takes all of us to create a community of hope, safety and a brighter tomorrow for all children,” she said.

“Our entire community needs to support SafePath’s vision of a community free of child abuse,” Snelson said.

The Galleria is located at 2 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta.

Sponsors are WellStar and Balfour Beatty Construction. Individual tickets are $150, and sponsorships are available.

To purchase tickets or learn more about SafePath, visit www.safepath.org, call (770) 801-3469 or email funddev.safepath

(Reprinted from the Marietta Daily Journal. Written by Sally Litchfield, February 01, 2013. Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – Making childrens voices heard Gala to help kids who are abused through SafePath)

The Hearing Children’s Voices Gala benefiting SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center will be held Saturday, March 9, 2013, 6pm, at the Cobb Galleria, 2 Galleria Pkwy  Atlanta, GA 30339.  For more information please call SafePath at 770-801-3465 or visit  http://www..safepath.org/events/hearingchildrensvoices. Tickets, tables and sponsorships are available.

This year’s Hearing Children’s Voices honoree will be Nickolas Smith recently featured on ABC News 20/20 and the Marietta Daily Journal.  Nick’s courageous story illuminates the importance and necessity of this organization.

SafePath Award Recipients
(l-r) Belk award recipients (Dave Brewer, Leslie Johnson, Lori-Brown
Jackson, Brittany Ponder, Budd Williams), TV23 recipient (Brad Plumley), Kimberly McCoy

SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center jump started the holiday season with its annual Holiday Community Open House where the non-profit recognized individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions toward preventing and decreasing child abuse in Cobb County. Joining in the festivities was Erin Coleman from WSB-TV who served as guest host at the event.

Belk was presented the Crystal Gavel Award in honor of their philanthropic commitment of leadership and service to charitable organizations. The Crystal Gavel recognizes an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution toward decreasing the negative effects of abuse and neglect of children in Cobb County. Belk has donated countless hours of their time and financial support to further SafePath’s mission.

Kimberly McCoy of the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office was selected as this year’s VIP recipient. The award is presented to member of the multi-disciplinary team who has made a significant impact in the prevention child abuse and neglect and is determined by their peers to have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Kimberly McCoy is currently Director of the Victim Witness Unit and was recognized for her diligence and heartfelt commitment to assist victims of child abuse and their families. The Prevention Award was presented to the TV23, Cobb County’s government access channel. With only three full time staff and an additional staff member from public safety assigned for public safety-related videos and training materials the station has greatly impacted the Cobb Community and helped to bring awareness to the damaging effects of child abuse and how to prevent child abuse in our community.

SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization whose vision is a community free of child abuse. For more information about SafePath, visit www.safepath.org.

On August 23, attend Good Eatin’ Great Cause, benefiting SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, a private 501 ©3 non-profit organization creating a community free of child abuse. Join host, Chef Alex Reethof, from Back to the Table, and presenting sponsor, Jim Taylor from Balfour Beatty Construction for a wonderful interactive evening with over 20 of Georgia’s favorite chefs who will be serving their signature dish tapas style.

Featuring restaurants such as Canoe, Gabriel’s, King of Pops, Miss Mamie’s Cupcakes: Winner of Cupcake Wars, and Chef Justin Balmes from CHOPPED and Food Network Star. In addition local celebrity chefs will serve as mentors in a judged team cook-off competition. Be a part of an entertaining and energetic event with incredible food, great company, and an amazing “cooking related” auction.

For more information and a complete list of participants, visit http://goodeatingreatcause.com/.