Child abuse in the community should be everyone’s concern.
Child abuse in the community should be everyone’s concern.
The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of East Hawaii will honor three individuals who have made a difference in the work of the center and the lives of abused children at its second annual gala recognition dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. April 29 at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s Moku ‘Ola Room.
This year’s honorees are psychologist Dr. Christopher (Kit) Barthel, retired Family Court Judge Ben Gaddis and center volunteer Gail Madie.
Barthel has a been affiliated with the Children’s Justice Center since its inception, serving as a consultant/trainer. He was the lead trainer on the Big Island for the center’s annual “General Dynamics of Child Sexual Abuse” workshop.
During his judgeship, Gaddis oversaw child protection issues, family-related temporary restraining orders and juvenile offender cases. He was a great advocate of a coordinated system response to family violence.
Madie is a devoted volunteer in the Friends office. Since 2011, she has worked with Robin Benedict, the Friends’ sole paid staff member, in developing and maintaining the critical client database, an important part of the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s program.
The private, nonprofit Friends of the Children’s Justice Center raises funds and obtains grants to assist known victims of child abuse.
Single tickets for the “Justice for Children” gala are $65 and tables and other levels of sponsorship are available on the Friends’ website, www.fcjcEast Hawaii.org.
The deadline for ticket reservations is Friday.
“Not only does this dinner event honor three important individuals who care about child abuse in our community, the proceeds from the dinner will help identified abused children,” said Jay Kimura, current Friends’ board president. “Our board’s slogan, ‘Help a victim be a child again,’ isn’t just words, it’s a promise.”