HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the commonwealth’s leading child abuse prevention organization, and the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU), headquartered in Harrisburg, announce an All Star lineup for the first PA Blue Ribbon Champion Awards Ceremony and Rally for Kids on April 5 at Noon at the State Capitol. Performers include: the Philadelphia Girls Choir; West Shore Christian Academy Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Singers; Commonwealth Charter Academy; and Cole Wagner, 2015 Red Land Little League U.S. World Series Champion. iHeartMedia host R.J. Harris serves as the master of ceremonies.
“Our PA Blue Ribbon Champion for Kids event showcases the very best that Pennsylvania’s youth offer our commonwealth, but also the terrible toll that child abuse exacts on our society,” said PFSA CEO Angela Liddle. “We will celebrate the everyday heroes and professionals who protect children from harm and remember, in a powerful way through songs and visual displays, the children whom we have lost to abuse. The message will be loud and clear: Together, we can and must protect and nurture our children.”
“Music expands the mind and lifts the spirit,” noted Stephan Stoeckl, executive director of the Philadelphia Girls Choir. “Through the gift of these young girls’ voices, we hope we transport the audience to a place of peace and understanding, and inspire every Pennsylvanian to become a champion for children.”
The full details of the campaign are available at www.pablueribbonchampion.org. The winners of the first PA Blue Ribbon Champion for Kids Awards will be announced at the ceremony on April 5 on the steps of the Capitol. Musical performances begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by the Awards Ceremony and Rally for Kids at Noon. It is free and open to the public. In the event of rain, the event will take place in the Capitol Rotunda.
According to the latest figures available from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, 34 children in the commonwealth died of child abuse-related causes and an additional 4,032 children were victims of abuse in 2015.
ABOUT PFSA: Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance provides training on recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect to schools, early childhood education centers, law enforcement agencies, religious institutions, and social service agencies. PFSA is the PA sponsor of The Front Porch Project®, a training initiative that educates community members so they can play a vital role in child protection. PFSA also works with nearly 50 affiliate agencies across Pennsylvania to provide information, educational materials, and programs that teach and support good-parenting practices. To donate and learn more, visit pa-fsa.org.
ABOUT PSECU - Opened in 1934, PSECU was founded by 22 ordinary people who made an extraordinary commitment to each other: To create a financial institution where pooled resources benefit all members. Today, we are a full-service credit union serving more than 400,000 members and have over $4.5 billion in assets. As a not-for-profit financial institution, our goal remains to help our members and their families achieve a better life. For more information on how we contribute to the greater good, view our Community Report Card.