For the second year, Child Protection Center (CPC) was awarded a $10,000 grant from the PNC Foundation in support of its Personal Safety and Community Awareness program.  Melissa Lane, CPC’s Director of Development stated, “We are grateful to have PNC’s generous commitment to our cause in the prevention and education area, which will help in efforts to protect children.” The grant will aid CPC in reaching over 35,000 children and professionals who work with children.  The team’s central purpose is to teach personal safety at every grade level in a majority of the schools in Sarasota County and summer camps.  The focus of these lessons is to help children understand touching rules, Internet safety, and bully prevention, as well as to send each child home with important safety tips and talking points for parents and guardians.  The team also trains law enforcement and professionals how to spot all forms of abuse and the steps to take to report any suspicions. Through funding like PNC’s, CPC’s Personal Safety staff can take their message across the county to family-oriented fairs and activities to inform the general public about the realities of abuse and how to advocate for children.  CPC continues to look at innovative ways to empower children, inform families, and educate the public in an effort to break the cycle of child abuse.

Child Protection Center