"The Child Advocacy Center thanks the huge group of walkers who put on their tennis shoes and joined us for the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children on Friday (4/29/2016) afternoon," announced Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer.
The final event of Child Abuse Awareness Month was the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children on Friday, April 29. The event kicked off at Murfreesboro Civic Plaza with guest speakers, former District Attorney General William C. Whitesell, Jr., Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland, Smyrna Police Chief Kevin Arnold, and new Murfreesboro Police Chief Karl Durr.
Participants had a beautiful, sunny afternoon to walk down South Church Street to the Child Advocacy Center on Samsonite Blvd. Speakers at the reception included Whitesell and Murfreesboro City Schools Director Linda Arms Gilbert. Whitesell thanked Walk Committee Chairs Pierrecia Lyons and Deidre Lackey for creating an incredible new event.
The Child Advocacy Center director presented awards to our own Hometown Heroes: Glenn Chrisman, Jennifer G. Gamble, Dr. Linda Arms Gilbert, Deirdre C. Lackey, Kim Snell, and William C. Whitesell, Jr.
"The Child Advocacy Center is grateful for the Hometown Heroes, Walk Committee, Child Protective Investigative Team members, the board and staff that sponsored the reception, Murfreesboro Police Department that helped us safely cross streets, Steve Toombs and Parks and Recreation for event set-up, Terry Cunningham and Murfreesboro EMS for providing the ambulance service, generous event sponsors, and reception sponsors They all came together to create an amazing event that showed the child abuse victims in our community how much we support them." continued De Boer.
The Hometown Heroes event sponsors were: Drs. Russ and Sherry Galloway, St. Thomas Rutherford,
Project One Four, SledgeCraft Architectural Millwork, Phillip Smith and Smith's Painting, Waldron Fann & Parsley Attorneys, Bill and Lucy Whitesell, Dempsey Vantrease & Follis, Elizabeth Renegar Parker, Sheryl Smith, and Peddler Gifts and Interiors.
Friends of the CAC included: Mike Bishop, Larry Bugg Construction, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of Smyrna, H2O Studios, Scott and Karen Hoke, District Attorney General Jennings Jones, Deirdre Lackey, Phyllis H. Reuhland, Smith Designs, Aleta Tuma, Tri-Star Title Company, and Wild About Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.
Reception sponsors were: Publix, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Whitt's Barbecue, and the Child Advocacy Center Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers.
The logo for the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children t-shirt was designed by local artist and elementary art teacher, Dee Dee Potter from Hobgood Elementary School. Local artist Abigail Atkins, from the Very Idea, finalized the artwork for the t-shirts.
"We want to thank everyone for making the 1st annual Hometown Heroes Walk for Children a huge success," said director Sharon De Boer, "We are looking forward to seeing you all next year!"
For more information about the Child Advocacy Center and the upcoming CAC Prize Patrol, visit the Facebook page or contact the Center. In Rutherford County call 615-867-9000 and in Cannon County call 615-563-9915.
