Every child deserves a childhood filled with hope. Yet, thousands of Colorado children experience abuse every year. They need us to speak up, step up, and show up. That’s why I have created this Hope Starts Here fundraising page to raise much-needed awareness and funds for the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) during Child Abuse Prevention Month (April). 

Why DCAC? DCAC prevents child abuse, strengthens families, advocates for children who have suffered abuse, and works tirelessly to ensure all children have the childhood they deserve–one filled with optimism, joy and happiness. This past year, they: 

• Reached 4,771 children, 541 parents, and 377 teachers through their community outreach and prevention work.

• Conducted 740 forensic interviews. 

• Provided case management, mental health assessments, and treatment for 624 clients. 

Why should you give? 

• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse at some point in childhood. And most won’t tell anyone for years–if ever. 

• Roughly 9 out of 1,000 children in Colorado suffer from abuse or neglect, and yet we know this number is well lower than the actual cases of abuse as underreporting of child abuse is still high post-pandemic. 

How your donation makes an impact: 

• $5 provides snacks for 5 children or art supplies for one therapy session 
• $25 provides child abuse prevention education for one child
• $50 provides transportation to DCAC for a family to receive services 
• $125 provides a therapy session for one child 
• $500 provides prevention programming for one classroom
• $900 provides a forensic interview and victim advocacy for one child 
• $5,750 provides a full treatment cycle for one child

I was a juror on a pretty rough case a few years ago and saw first-hand how much the DCAC was able to help the children involved. Even a donation of $5 makes a huge difference.

I truly appreciate your support. Together, we can give kids the hope they deserve.