Hope Shining National Launch
 Safe Horizon officially launched Hope Shining with a press conference on September 25, 2008. Hosted by actress and Safe Horizon board member Stephanie March, the press conference brought together key experts, volunteers and survivors to reinforce the importance of knowing the signs of child abuse and taking action against the abuse.
Safe Horizon CEO Ariel Zwang welcomed over 50 guests to the new facility with introductory remarks about Safe Horizon and the need for Hope Shining. Bea Hanson, Safe Horizon's Chief Program Officer, then announced the results of the "Bystander and Child Abuse" study, a nationwide survey assessing public knowledge and perceptions surrounding child abuse. Visit our Research page for more information on the survey and its results.
The Honorable Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council, then spoke about the government's role in protecting children and the importance of Hope Shining to accomplish that goal. At CACs across the country, including Safe Horizon's, an interdisciplinary team includes doctors, counselors, social workers, police detectives, and assistant district attorneys all working together under one roof to ensure that children who are abused receive the help they need, fast and in one location, to minimize the trauma of having to repeat their story over and over again.
Anne Williams-Isom, the deputy commissioner of New York City's Administration for Children's Services, announced ACS's partnership with Safe Horizon in raising awareness of child abuse. She highlighted two points from the "Bystander and Child Abuse" survey that speak to local misperceptions about reporting abuse; one, that almost half those polled incorrectly believe that children are automatically removed from the home when abuse is reported; two, that more than one-third of the public does not know that suspected abuse can be reported anonymously. Ms. Williams-Isom stressed the importance of increasing awareness on the reporting process, and announced dates for available bystander training sessions.
 Theresa Huizar, executive director of the National Children's Alliance, spoke to the importance of a untied national effort to address child abuse, through the Hope Shining Network Alliance. The National Children's Alliance is a national association of more than 600 CACs nationwide.
David Dineen, executive vice president of New York/Connecticut branch banking for Hope Shining Proud National Sponsor Capital One, discussed Capital One's critical support of this important initiative. In addition to sponsoring Hope Shining and the 2008 public awareness campaign, Capital One is actively contributing to public education by distributing the "10 Signs of Child Abuse" tip cards in their New York-area branches.
Finally, José Raúl Pérez, vice president of Consumer Marketing at Time Inc. and a Safe Horizon board member, told guests his own story of surviving child abuse. From ages 5 to 11, he was brutally beaten by his stepfather when his mother was not at home, ultimately leading to life-threatening injuries that left him hospitalized for weeks.
The press conference also provided an opportunity for the presentation of the Hope Shining 2008 public awareness campaign. Beginning this month, these advertisements will begin appearing in national magazines as well as on billboards, buses, bus shelters, and elevator screens across the country.
Additional events are soon to follow in Houston, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. See below for details, and check this page for updates as Hope Shining continues to break ground across the nation!
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