Hero's Haven Child Advocacy Center receives more than $100,000 donation

Yahoo

17-04-2025

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — The Bridgeport Junior Woman's Club presented the Hero's Haven Child Advocacy Center with a check for $107,000, which was partially made up from the proceeds of the 2025 Be the Change Ball, according to Executive Director Patty Saunders.
'This money means a lot right now,' said Saunders. 'Of course, everyone knows that there's a funding crisis with everything, but our numbers keep growing.'
Saunders told 12 News that this funding will help Hero's Haven grow its advocacy program to provide the services that it does to alleged child victims and their protected caregivers. She added that it will also help Hero's Haven start a therapy program, which will consist of an in-house therapist at the center.
'A lot of times, children come in our center and it's a safe place where they're able to tell their story and [lift] the weight off their shoulders, and they wanna come back,' Saunders added. 'It's a place where they can continue their healing and become survivors.'
April is recognized each year as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, so it's particularly important this month for the Hero's Haven Child Advocacy Center to get the word out about its message: 'See Something, Say Something.' It also stressed the importance of raising community awareness of child abuse and the services that are out there.
Hero's Haven is considered a specialized service, according to Saunders, because it's referred to by law enforcement and child protective services (CPS) to prevent children from having to go through multiple interviews. She added that their center has specially trained interviewers that conduct these interviews in a child-friendly setting 'to help reduce the trauma, the number of times they're interviewed and help increase prosecution.'
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Saunders described the center's family advocates as 'the glue' that holds the team together, adding that they work with the protected caregivers and children for years.
'They're helping them provide medical services, mental health services, they help with [the West Virginia] Crime Victims Compensation fund and they also help go with them to court for jury trials or whatever they may need,' she added.
Saunders said that the board, the team and the community helped Hero's Haven Child Advocacy Center get involved by spreading the message of what it's all about. Saunders added that they have members who are also involved with the Bridgeport Junior Woman's Club.
Now that Hero's Haven has received this donation, it's already in the process of hiring more advocates. Saunders stated that it has also started expanding it's space, has begun looking at a space that can accommodate therapists.
Once the organization finally brings a therapist on board, that will provide it with specialized training that follows their nationally accredited standards.
'This donation's important but we are a non-profit and we run on donations and grants,' Saunders added.
Hero's Haven Child Advocacy Center is having fundraisers all throughout the month, in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. A portion of the proceeds made from Stone Tower Brews' current drink of the month (Creamsicle Matcha) will benefit the center, and they'll also be selling the organization's 'High-Five hands.'
These hands will also be available at Stonewall Coffee, multiple West Union Bank locations, as well as Hometown Pizzeria.
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