CALM’s I Will Not Be Silent Campaign
Charles Ramsay of Cleveland, OH raised his voice and called the authorities when he believed a young girl was the victim of domestic violence dispute – this young girl, Amanda Berry, was in fact a kidnapped victim and had suffered horrific abuse.
This is exactly the kind of action CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation) aims to encourage through its annual “I Will Not Be Silent” Campaign held throughout the month of April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. All month long, CALM worked towards raising both community awareness and critical funds for child abuse prevention and treatment. CALM invited the public to join them in a community-wide effort to raise a collective voice against child abuse and to pledge support to the “I Will Not Be Silent” Campaign.
“Through our efforts and outreach, our goal is to create a community of responsibility,” said Cecilia Rodriguez, Executive Director at CALM. “By raising awareness surrounding child abuse prevention, more people are coming forward and recognizing that they need help. This has been demonstrated by our growing waiting list of people needing our services.”
To help educate the communities that CALM serves in the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria region, CALM hosted several free public events and its 2nd annual “I Will Not Be Silent” Silent Gala & Auction. CALM held Open Houses at their Santa Barbara and Santa Maria offices, where they introduced close to 200 people to CALM’s work. At the Children’s Resource and Referral Center Conference in Santa Maria, CALM staff members shared their expertise in treating postpartum depression and in positive parenting. CALM’s first ever Community Lecture open to the public in Santa Barbara, entitled “Building Resiliency in Your Child,” delivered an important message about parenting to parents, families and community members.
In addition to raising voices, CALM raised approximately $18,000 in unrestricted donations, which will be matched. CALM also held their 2nd annual online Silent Auction, which reached many new bidders and connected them with CALM. Every dollar from sponsorships, donations, and the online auction goes directly to supporting CALM’s critical programs and services that prevent, assess, and treat child abuse in Santa Barbara County.
CALM was also recognized throughout the Santa Barbara downtown region, with their flags flying on State Street, and through the central display case in the Santa Barbara Library, which showcased important information about CALM’s services in the community. Visibility of CALM and their services have been at an all-time high with the agency’s PSA airing on both KCOY and KEYT.
“When we raise our voices up against abuse and neglect, we are helping to save the lives of both victims and potential victims,” said Rodriguez.
CALM would like to take this opportunity to send a genuine and heartfelt thanks to the Santa Barbara County communities for the overwhelming support of the “I Will Not Be Silent” campaign. Particular thanks go out to Agatha Aldisert, Rosa & Michael Alvarado, Susan Bais, Margo & Jeff Barbakow, Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf, LLP, Stephen Blain & Paul Guido, Judith K. Blankenship, Anne & Edward Blaschke, Nancy & Tom Bollay, Kevin Bourke, Bower Foundation, Caryl & Steve Bowman, Eleanor Byrne, Cabana Home, Louise & Tim Casey, Linda Clough, Susan Conger, Margaret Connell, Janice Cooper, D’Arcy & Mark Cornwall, Sharon & Michael Crandall, Eleanor & Jack Cunningham, Delores & Walter David, Janet Davis, Deanna & Jim Dehlsen, Ann & Robert Diener, Molly & Ben Diener, Ginni & Chad Dreier, Patricia & Larry Durham, Karen Engberg, Neil Korpinen & Rick Erickson, Bridget & Mark Foreman, FTI Services, Inc., Setsuko & Dennis Furuike, Kevin Geer, Girls Scouts of California Central Coast – Troop 503, Lori & Rabbi Evan Goodman, Mary & Rowland Hanson, Gail & Roger Haupt – Thistle and Rose Foundation, Madeline Heimark, Herbert & Gertrude Latkin Charitable Foundation, Deborah Holmes & Craig Park, Nancy & Karl Hutterer, Hutton Parker Foundation, Invest in Others Charitable Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Donald Jackson, Elaine Jacobs, Kristine M. Jacquin, JM Construction, Sarah & Dr. Frederick Kass, Linda Adler-Kassner & Scott Kassner, Deborah Kleiner, Shirley & James Kodak, Anna & Petar Kokotovic, Kim Liscombe, Marilyn Magid, Jane Manasse, Marborg Industries, Marketing Express, Marcelle Martin, McCune Foundation, Rosemary & Dan Moll, Montecito Union School PTA, Rosemary & Dana Morck, Susan & Ron Morrow, Carolyn & Liam Murphy, Joanne & Robert Nelson, Yvonne & Andy Neumann, Ray H. Olmstead, Orfalea Foundation, Rosemary Peters, Stacy & Ron Pulice, April & Gil Reyes, Riviera Insurance Services, Sagrario Ruiz, Kelly & Jonathan Samuels, Beverly & Maxwell Sanders, Santa Barbara Foundation, Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club Foundation, Ruth & Bernard Schaeffer, Maryan & Richard Schall, Vicki & Dale Schumacher, Richard Silver, Bui & Herbert Simon, Gina Bifano & Ken Skiff, Sally & Jay Smith, Leah & Robert Temkin, Louise Tighe, The Susanne and Gary Tobey Family Foundation, Dr. Carrie Towbes, Ph.D. & Dr. John Lewis, Sandra & Sam Tyler, Volentine Family Foundation, Harold Wayne, Williams Corbett Foundation, Marcia & James Wolfe, Theresa Yandell, Yardi Systems, Anne & Stephen Yungling, Victor Zilinskas, Sheila & Jim Zimmerman, and numerous anonymous supporters.
This was a community-wide effort, and CALM would also like to thank their non-profit partners, CASA of Santa Barbara County, Channel Islands YMCA, Child Abuse Prevention Council, Easy Lift Transportation, Family Service Agency, Partners in Education, Santa Barbara Museum on Natural History, and Storyteller Children’s Center, and the media sponsors, CASA Magazine, KDB-93.7/FM Classical Music, KEYT-TV, KCOY, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara News-Press, and Santa Maria Times.
CALM would also like to thank the individuals and companies who donated their products, experiences, and services to the online auction, Linda Adler-Kassner, Rosa & Michael Alvarado, Byron Bartlett, Beach Club Athletics, Dan Bifano, Blossom Salon, Nancy & Tom Bollay, Bragg Farms, Cabana Home, Carlyle Salon, Ciao Bella, Circle Bar B Guest Ranch and Stables, Cloud Star, Cat Cora, Curtis Winery, Darin Jon Salon, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, Derek Moore’s InFitness, Downey’s, El Encanto, Orient Express, Firestone Walker Brewery, Float Luxury Spa, For Paws Salon, Forever Beautiful Spa, Tom Garcia, The Gibson, Fuhring & Siefert Families, The Granada Theatre, Gustafson Dance, Mary & Rowland Hanson, The Henry Family, Island Brewery, Suzanne Landry, Cindy & Steve Lyons, Mareva Intl., Mark Halper Fine Art Photography, Miss Behavin’, Moms in Motion, Paradise Café, Peaches, Erin Pearson, Stephanie Rachford, Janice Ristow, Santa Barbara Athletic Club, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, Santa Barbara Running, Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Maria Valley YMCA, Christine Scott, Meredith & John Scott, Stephanie & Jim Sokolove, and an anonymous donor.
A final thank you goes out to CALM’s “I Will Not Be Silent!” Chairperson D’Arcy Cornwall. Because so many of you were NOT silent, the community’s children and families can enjoy living in a community of responsibility.
There continue to be many ways to get involved with CALM – come in for a visit at either the Santa Barbara or Santa Maria offices, donate to CALM’s efforts, and Raise Your Voice against child abuse. Unfortunately, child abuse does happen every day, in many forms – violence, sexual, neglect – and it continues to go unreported. CALM will continue to fight against child abuse for as long as it takes. PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY, raise your voice, and join CALM’s “I Will Not Be Silent” Campaign.
CALM was founded in 1970 to reach stressed parents before they hurt their children. CALM continues to be the only non-profit agency in Santa Barbara County focusing solely on preventing, assessing, and treating child abuse and family violence through comprehensive, cutting-edge programs. CALM offers children, families, and adults a safe, non-judgmental, caring, and strength-based environment to heal and increase family well being. For more information about all of CALM’s services, please call 805-965-2376, or visit www.calm4kids.org