Latest news with #Childhelp
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Childhelp Launches 'Hope for a Safe Summer' Campaign to Protect Vulnerable Children During Summer Break
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As families prepare for sun-soaked vacations and poolside fun, Childhelp is urging communities to stay alert to a quieter, more dangerous reality: For many children, summer is not a break — it's a breakdown of their most consistent safety net. That's why Childhelp is launching 'Hope for a Safe Summer' campaign — an effort to raise awareness and prevent child abuse during the months when it's most likely to go unnoticed. 'Summer should be a time of joy,' says Michael Medoro, Childhelp Chief of Staff and COO. 'But for children living in abusive or neglectful environments, the end of the school year often means the end of their daily contact with trusted adults who can step in and help.' Why summer is so risky for kids: Fewer mandatory reporters: During the school year, teachers, counselors, and coaches are often the first to spot signs of abuse. In fact, teachers are the primary reporters of child abuse in the U.S. But when school lets out, that critical connection disappears. Less structure and supervision: Summer often brings looser routines, more unsupervised time, and less oversight. This can lead to increased exposure to potential abusers, including family members, family friends, or online predators. According to the FBI, more than 500,000 predators are online at any given time, often targeting children who are spending more time alone on devices. Fewer interactions with safe adults: Families may isolate during vacations or due to financial constraints, which means fewer check-ins from neighbors, friends, or relatives who might otherwise notice signs of abuse. Some families may travel to visit extended relatives — and unfortunately, abuse can also occur in those environments. Increased stress at home: Summer can bring added financial strain due to childcare costs, food insecurity (when school meals are no longer available), and the pressure of vacations or camps. These stressors can increase the risk of abuse and reduce a parent or caregiver's ability to cope in healthy ways. Fewer calls for help: Despite the increased risk, child abuse reporting drops dramatically in the summer — with some studies showing as much as a 23% decrease in hotline calls. That doesn't mean abuse stops. It means it's going unseen. Childhelp's Hope for a Safe Summer The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD) is available 24/7, staffed with professional counselors who provide immediate, confidential support and resources to children and adults in need. It remains a lifeline for those who have no other trusted adult to turn to. By donating just $22, one child can get the life-saving support they need through the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. The campaign runs until August 31. About Childhelp: Founded by Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson in 1959, Childhelp® has brought the light of hope and healing into the lives of more than 13 million children as a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping abused, neglected and at-risk children. Childhelp's programs and services include residential treatment services, children's advocacy centers, therapeutic foster care, group homes and child abuse prevention, education and training. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline serves children and adults nationwide 24/7 through phone, text and online chat. For more information, visit and follow Childhelp at MEDIA CONTACT: Jessica Parsons Meghan Krein Gordon C. James Public Relations Childhelp O: 602-274-1988 / C: 602-686-5746 O: 480-922-8215 / C: 480-528-0537 jparsons@ mkrein@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
24-04-2025
- CBS News
Protesters outside Meta's NYC office call for more protection for kids
Demonstrators gathered outside Meta's Manhattan office Thursday, demanding the company take better precautions at protecting children. Emotional family members clutched photos of their children, saying young people are increasingly at risk of harm because of social media. Open letter calls for end to promoting dangerous content on social media About 45 families from the United States and the United Kingdom say they lost children to what they call "online harms." They delivered an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg signed by more than 10,000 people, including 18 safety organizations. They want the company to take greater action to protect kids. The letter calls on Meta to "end the algorithmic promotion of dangerous content to children under 18, including explicit and sexualizing content, racism and hate speech, content promoting disordered eating or self-harm, dangerous viral challenges, and content promoting drugs and alcohol." They also call for "purging known problematic adult accounts and not connecting them to kids, and upholding firewalls to prevent unknown adults from communicating with young users through direct messages." A Meta spokesperson released a statement that reads in part, "Teen accounts have built-in protections that limit who can contact teens and the content they see, and 94% of parents say these are helpful. We've also developed safety features to help prevent abuse, like warning teens when they're chatting to someone in another country." Meta also says it worked with the nonprofit Childhelp to launch an online safety curriculum to help middle school students recognize potential online harm. "It's not too late for today's children" Family members shared their stories and their pain. "Hey Meta, flashback to the darkest moments of my life when my 16-year-old son David died by suicide after he was cyber-bullied for months on your very own Instagram," one parent said. "After losing my son, Elijah, my only child, to fentanyl that he obtained from Snapchat, I realized other families have similar experiences," another parent said. "Stop looking the other way," one woman said. "It's too late for my son, Brett, but it's not too late for today's children. Do something," another parent said. If you or someone you know needs help, you can call or text 988 to speak with a trained, caring counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also chat online with a counselor at
Los Angeles Times
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
The Crowd: Coastal Orange County teems with activity this spring
A small band of people gathered on the corner of Bristol Street and Avenue of the Arts in Costa Mesa to protest the recent performance of the Israel Philharmonic at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. While protests are as much a part of the American foundation as apple pie, driving past, I couldn't help but question the objective of standing in opposition to a philharmonic orchestra. Music, after all, is one of humankind's most enduring gifts unifying people across borders, throughout the ages. The concert, produced by the Philharmonic Society and sponsored in great part by the Henry T. and Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation, was brilliant. Music director and conductor Lahov Shani led the orchestra in an inspirational program that began with a rousing performance of both the U.S. and Israeli national anthems. The 'Star-Spangled Banner' and 'Hatikvah' blended with explosive hope and promise. Max Bruch's 'Kol Nidrei' followed, heightening the emotional pull of the evening. Leonard Bernstein's 'Halil' and then Tchaikovsky's 'Symphony No 6 in B Minor' capped the evening concert that ended in multiple standing ovations, and then an encore. A special nod to principal cellist Haran Meltzer. The Packard International Motor Car Club will bring its most elegant and historic display of what many auto collectors and historians consider the finest American cars ever built to a show at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Newport Beach, Saturday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to noon. Upwards of 40 outstanding cars, Concours d'Elegance quality, dating from the 1920s to the 1950s, will be on display. The Packard Club is headquartered in Santa Ana and is a non-profit social organization dedicated to the preservation of these remarkable examples of automotive engineering and art. The event is free to the public. The Balboa Island Museum is planning its popular annual Memorial Day BBQ in the Park honoring local veterans. The museum, working with sponsors including the Balboa Island Improvement Association (BIIA), the Louis and Gladyse Foster Family Foundation, Rusty's Chips, 501 Park Avenue, and more, will produce the Monday, May 26 celebration at 115 Agate Ave., Newport Beach. Volunteers will serve your favorite barbecued burgers, dogs, SPAM and chili. Free to all vets; $15 for adults, $10 kids. To learn more visit The Newport Beach Country Club welcomes Childhelp's Rich Saul Memorial Golf Classic on April 28. The 13th anniversary outing is named for the late former Los Angeles Rams center Rich Saul. The Childhelp Classic is celebrating its 43rd year on the Orange Coast and will be co-chaired this season by Debra Violette and Catherine Caporaso. Eileen Saul, Rich Saul's widow, will act as tournament coordinator. Organizers expect to raise more than $600,000 benefiting the work of Childhelp in O.C., saving the lives of the most abused and neglected children in need. Platinum title sponsors of the golf tournament are Jacquie and Michael Casey, joining executive sponsors the O'Connell Family Foundation and the Cleo A. Bluth Family Charitable Foundation. To learn more, visit They are calling for 'All Hands on Deck!' Newport Sea Base will host its Good Sea Scout awardees Anne and John Wortmann on May 16 at a reception in support of youth involved in the various programs offered at Sea Base. More than 10,000 local youth participate in Sea Base marine-focused experiences annually. John Wortmann is a Newport Beach Commodore, and the chairman of the Board of Governors for Balboa Bay Club, among many other civic and charitable endeavors supported by both he and wife Anne, the Pasadena Rose Queen in 1976. For ticket information, sponsorship outreach and more, contact Elena Garcia at (714) 546-4990 x121 or April 5 marked Leo 'Marty' Schlocker's 100th birthday in Newport Beach, his home since 1964. The WWII Army veteran was an enlisted member of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 17th Airborne Division attached to Gen. George Patton's Third Army. Wounded and captured by the German Army during the Battle of the Bulge, Schlocker discarded his dog tags that indicated his Jewish religion, fearing death, and was sent to Stalag 9B as a prisoner of war. Following his service, Schlocker returned to the U.S. and served 23 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, 25 years in the Army Reserve, and 30 years with the L.A. Airport Authority as superintendent of operations. A lifetime member of the Newport Beach Elks Lodge 1767, Schlocker joined his wife, Pamela, family and friends celebrating his 100th, and a lifetime of family, community and national service.
Fox News
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Rocky' star Dolph Lundgren, wife Emma Krokdal soak up Miami sun after actor's years-long health battle
"Rocky" star Dolph Lundgren and wife Emma Krokdal were spotted soaking up the sun in Miami Beach after the actor's lengthy health battle. Lundgren, 67, and Krokdal, 29, were photographed enjoying a day at the beach during a stay at the luxury Faena Hotel. The action star, who revealed in November he was cancer-free after nine years of treatment and surgery, showed off his fit physique as he went shirtless in a pair of blue and white swim trunks. Lundgren sported a black watch and a silver chain. The "Expendables" star wore what appeared to be black kinesiology tape wrapped around his ankles. Krokdal put her trim figure on full display in a lavender-colored string bikini. The personal trainer accessorized with a pair of large tortoiseshell sunglasses, a belly button ring, beaded bracelets and gold hoop earrings. The pair carried white towels as they strolled along the shoreline before lying down to sunbathe. Lundgren was seen rearranging a lounge chair under a red and white umbrella while his wife relaxed in the chair next to him. The actor later wore a white polo shirt before the couple walked back to the hotel where they were seen beaming as they caught more rays. Lundgren and Krokdal, who announced their engagement in June 2020, tied the knot at their villa in Mykonos, Greece, in July 2023. The actor was previously married to jewelry designer Anette Qviberg, from 1994 to 2011. The former couple share daughters Ida, 28, and Greta, 23. In an Instagram post Lundgren posted Thursday, he shared that the couple had traveled to Miami to attend an event supporting the charitable organization Childhelp. "Their mission to prevent child abuse, is a cause very close to my heart and something I've experienced personally," he wrote of the nonprofit in the caption. "Every 10 seconds there's a report of child abused in the United States. Appreciate your help," Lundgren added, sharing a link to Childhelp's website. "Protect our children — our future," he added, tagging Childhelp's Instagram account. Lundgren has previously spoken out about being physically abused by his father while growing up in Sweden. The "Creed II" star's post included a trio of photos taken during their trip. In one image, Lundgren posed in a brown suit with a white dress shirt and white sneakers in the lobby of the Faena. Krokdal, who was wearing a white floral blouse with a sheer white layered skirt, joined him in another snap. The third photo featured Lundgren on stage as he received an award at Chidhelp's "Miracles in Miami" fundraiser. The pair's trip comes after Lundgren announced he had beaten the odds after being given two years to live at one point during his battle with cancer. In a November Instagram post shared from his hospital bed, Lundgren announced he was "finally cancer free with gratefulness and excitement for a bright future." In the video he posted, Lundgren said, "Here I am at UCLA. I'm about to go in and get rid of that last tumor. Since there are no cancer cells in my body anymore, I guess I'll be cancer-free, so I'm looking forward to this procedure." He explained he was undergoing lung ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that uses heating or cooling mechanisms to destroy tumor tissue, according to the Mayo Clinic. "It's been a rough ride and really taught me how to live in the moment and enjoy every moment of life. I mean, it's the only way to go," Lundgren said before heading into surgery. Lundgren was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015, when doctors found a tumor in his kidney. The doctors were able to remove the tumor, and he remained cancer-free for five years. During an interview on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger," he revealed doctors found a "few more tumors around the area" in 2020 and removed six additional tumors, but one had grown into the "size of a lemon" in his liver, and doctors were unable to remove it. "It wasn't looking good," he told Fox News Digital in January 2024. "I mean, there was a doctor in London who basically told me you should stop working and spend more time with your family. Then I realized it was serious." However, the "Universal Solider" star later learned his doctors were "giving me the wrong treatments because they hadn't really checked on all the biopsies." "I got a second opinion from a UCLA doctor, and she went back and looked at all the biopsies, and she said, 'Well, you know, this is a different mutation than what they said,'" Lundgren recalled. "They hadn't checked it. They just assumed. As soon as I got the new medication, I started getting better. And that was all [2022]. "And then last year, I removed all those tumors," Lundgren recalled. "They freeze them out or use radiation. And then, you know, now I'm living a normal life, I would say. Except I gotta go and do a scan every three months. But everything else is kind of back to normal. So, it was scary and magical at the same time."
Los Angeles Times
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
The Crowd: ‘For the Love of a Child' spring fashion event supports work of Childhelp
The Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach, opened its ballroom doors to welcome Orange County's fashionable women for an annual spring gather in support of a serious cause, fighting child abuse. The Orange County chapter of Childhelp, one of the premiere affiliates of the national organization founded in 1959 by Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, held its 39th Fashion Show and Luncheon billed as 'For the Love of a Child.' OC Childhelp President Julie Thornton-Adams greeted the sold-out crowd dressed to impress. Arguably, this fashion event on the Orange Coast is among the most glamorous and exquisitely produced spring runway shows and luncheons. Credit for the impeccable production belongs in great part to the most dedicated OC Childhelp advocate Patti Edwards. Attending with husband Jimmy Edwards, Patti, honorary event chair and National Childhelp board member, has championed the cause of protecting the most neglected, abused and damaged children who have been abandoned by family, society and the system. Childhelp has served as the last stop for decades, rescuing the vulnerable children lost and often slipping through the cracks of what should be a decent and humane, safe time in a young life to grow and flourish. Standing tall with Edwards in the mission to save the children were the 2025 Fashion Show Luncheon event chairs Katherine Meredith and Diana Miner. The powerhouse duo, also setting the uber chic fashion vibe donning complimentary all-white spring wardrobe, produced a flawless event headlined by a runway fashion show presented by South Coast Plaza and curated by Stephanie Rogers, director of community relations. Models strutted the elevated catwalk, which featured two lanes bisecting the ballroom, allowing all guests to share a perfect vantage point of collections from Bally, Balmain, Camilla, Lanvin, Missoni, Monique Lhuillier, and Saks Fifth Avenue. In the crowd, seated at tables festooned with spectacular spring white-on-white arrangements, and dining on a luncheon multi-course service were Childhelp devotees Becky Cooper, Christine Bren, Carol Primm, Eileen Saul, Joyce Simon, Patricia Ford, Tracy Abel, Barbara Ganahl, Marion Hartwich, Jean deVries, Eve Kornyei, Pamela Selber, Dee Higby, Marion Jacobson, Betty Huang and Kitty Canada, to name only a few. Major support for Childhelp over many years of generous giving of both time and treasure deserves tremendous appreciation and attention paid to special guests. Among the standouts are Beverly Cohen, Olivia Abel, Pam Pharris, Joy Estrada, Debra Violette, Gina Van Ocker, Mary Allyn Dexter and Jacquie Casey, also known as Childhelp angel and a Stardust donor. She and her husband, Michael Casey, have quietly rescued countless kids with their remarkable giving. Joining Jacquie at her table were close friends and family including daughters Kimberly Casey and Monica Booth, Gail Haft, Gayle Naylor, Heather Denton, Nancy Pelligrino and Lee Healy. The inspirational highlight of the afternoon came with the presentation of Childhelp's Children's Friend Award. Patti Edwards introduced the audience to Rosevelt Rawls, a talented young lady who took the stage with considerable grace and confidence. Rawls accepted her award and shared her personal story and commitment to the Childhelp mission. At age 11, Rawls became a Childhelp Youth Ambassador under the tutelage of founders O'Meara and Fedderson. Today, she continues that mission, traveling the nation having visited some 175 schools across 26 states and reaching more than 200,000 young people. Rawls shared her beautiful voice, performing an original song that took the event to another level of inspiration and purpose. To learn more about the important work of Childhelp today in Orange County and nationally, visit
