PA Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the state leader in child protection, along with its sponsors, PSECU, Pennsylvania’s largest credit union, Weis Markets, and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Pennsylvania, will honor 5 PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids at a State Capitol Rotunda ceremony on April 3, starting with youth musical performances at 10:30 a.m. and the PA Blue Ribbon Awards Program at 11 a.m. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Pa.
The youth tribute to the Commonwealth’s children will feature Miss Pennsylvania 2018 Kayla Repasky; students from Mechanicsburg High School Chamber Ensemble; Harrisburg School District Foose and Ben Franklin Elementary School Choirs; and soloists Madison Oliverio from Trinity High School and Davia Giles from Harrisburg High, along with mascots and Turkey Hill’s Giant Cow.
A giant, wooden birthday cake, built and donated by Home Depot of Lower Paxton, along with 40 wrapped presents representing 40 children who lost their lives to abuse in one year in the state, as well as birthdays never celebrated to demonstrate their journeys cut short by violence. Outside, blue flags honor 4,693 children who sadly were victims of child abuse, each representing a child affected by abuse.
The PA Department of Human Services declared it #WearBlueDay and encourages all Pennsylvanians to wear blue and shine blue lights for child abuse awareness. The Capitol and businesses in downtown Harrisburg will display blue lights and posters with the message “Learn How to #ProtectPAKids.” The PA Turnpike Administration HQ will be lit in blue and its 17 Service Plazas feature digital ads about the protection of children. The PA State Capitol and downtown bridges will also go blue.
Who: PA Family Support Alliance President and CEO Angela M. Liddle; PA Dept. of Human Services Sec. Teresa Miller; legislators and elected officials; PFSA board members and sponsors; Awards Selection Panel members; Miss Pennsylvania 2018 Kayla Repasky; Mechanicsburg High School Chamber Ensemble; Harrisburg School District Elementary Choirs; Soloists Madison Oliverio from Trinity High School and Davia Giles from Harrisburg High; children; and the public.
What: PFSA’s “PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids” Awards, a free, open-to-the-public ceremony to raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April
When: Wednesday, April 3, 10:30 a.m. Music /11 a.m. Awards Program
Where: PA State Capitol Rotunda, Third & State Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
About PFSA: Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance prevents child abuse and protects children from harm by helping parents learn positive parenting techniques, educating professionals and volunteers who work with children to recognize and report child abuse, and helping community members learn how they can play a positive role in keeping children safe. To learn more about our programs, schedule a training, or make a donation, please visit pa-fsa.org, or call 800-448-4906. Here’s a link to the overall campaign www.pablueribbonchampion.org.
More Upcoming PFSA Events:
Wednesday, April 10 – Flag Planting and Awards Ceremony in Pittsburgh
8 a.m., Flag Planting, City County Building, 414 Grant Street / 9:30 a.m. Breakfast & 10 a.m. Awards Ceremony, One Oxford Center, 2nd Floor, 301 Grant Street
This year, we’re expanding to Pittsburgh and in ONE DAY, we will put up the 4,693 blue flags and 40 black flags on Grant Street and light Pittsburgh BLUE, as well as honor outstanding Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids.