Rally, pinwheels bring awareness to child abuse prevention

Children Trust Michigan holds 16^th annual event at State Capitol

LANSING, Mich. - Spinning blue and silver pinwheels marked the path to the State Capitol today as Children Trust Michigan held the 16^th annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day Rally.

About 250 people attended, planting the pinwheels in the ground following a ceremony where speakers talked about how communities around Michigan can prevent child abuse. The pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Children Trust Michigan, housed within MDHHS, was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1982. It serves as a voice for Michigan's children and families and promotes their health, safety and welfare by funding effective local programs and services that prevent child abuse and neglect.

Suzanne Greenberg, executive director of Children Trust Michigan, served as emcee for the rally.

"Every day, our Children Trust Michigan team works in partnership with our more than 100 prevention partners so we can prevent child abuse and neglect in Michigan by strengthening families," said Greenburg. "We support primary and secondary prevention programs as well as Family Resource Centers serving all 83 counties. We believe in the power of prevention, and we know our programs are truly making a difference, keeping families together and giving children the best possible chance to live in a safe, happy and healthy environment."

Other event speakers included Earl Major, Children Trust Michigan board member, Sen. Aric Nesbitt, Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet and Duane Breijak, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers.

Children Trust Michigan also honored the 2024 winner of the Inspire Award - Shana Dancer, a volunteer at the Gratiot Child Advocacy Association.

Danni Franzoni of Child & Family Services of Northeast Michigan, Ian Agee of InvolvedDad, Inc. and Julie Hunter of Gratiot County Child Advocacy Association shared parent stories.

For information on Children Trust Michigan and Child Abuse Prevention Month, visit childrentrustmichigan.org.

Today's rally is one of two major Children's Trust Fund events in April and May.

The annual Pam Posthumus Signature Auction Event is Tuesday, May 14 at 5 p.m. at the Breslin Center on Michigan State University's campus in East Lansing to raise money to support child abuse prevention programming. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to support the Children Trust Michigan, visit childrentrustmichigan.org.

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About Children Trust Michigan Created by the Michigan Legislature in 1982, Children Trust Michigan is Michigan's only statewide nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Children Trust Michigan serves as a voice for Michigan's children and families and promotes their health, safety and welfare by funding effective local programs and services in all 83 Michigan counties that prevent child abuse and neglect.

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