TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - November 28, 2016) - Tomorrow, November 29th is GivingTuesday in Canada. Considered "opening day of the giving season," it is a time for people to give back to their community through fundraising, volunteering and other acts of charity. Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (Boost CYAC) has once again brought together some of Toronto's most influential people to raise awareness for child abuse and sex trafficking in our city through the #RedSandProject.
The #RedSandProject is a visual demonstration of what can happen to the most vulnerable members of our community -- our children. "Child abuse affects thousands of children in our city every year, yet so often it is not recognized or reported by those around the child," stated Boost CYAC President & CEO, Karyn Kennedy. Everybody in our community has a moral and legal responsibility to report any suspicion of child maltreatment. If an individual does not report their concern, that child has fallen through a crack.
The Chief of Police, The Honourable Peter MacKay, Bay Street executives and celebrities have participated in this year's social media campaign in support of Boost CYAC.
"When child abuse is not reported, kids fall through the cracks and we fail as a society to protect our most vulnerable members," said Peter MacKay, PC, QC, Vice Chairman of Boost CYAC. "It is everybody's responsibility to keep our children safe. They deserve no less."
Boost CYAC, Toronto's only Child & Youth Advocacy Centre responds to sexual offenses, the most severe physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and family violence when a child is the victim. In fact, more than 2200 investigations have been conducted at Boost CYAC in the last three years. We bring all professionals involved in child abuse cases under one roof, for a coordinated, interdisciplinary response to children, youth and their families. Our partners include: Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto, Native Child & Family Services, Jewish Family & Child, Toronto Police Service, SAFE-T Program (Radius Child & Youth Services), Child Development Institute, and the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Program (The Hospital for Sick Children).
ABOUT BOOST CHILD & YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE
For 35 years, Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre (Boost CYAC) has provided services to children, youth and their families to prevent child maltreatment and intervene when abuse takes place. The centre provides a creative community response to child abuse investigations. A partnership between local and government agencies, it brings together all of the professionals involved in child abuse investigations and recovery support with the goal of providing a seamless, interdisciplinary response to children and youth when they disclose abuse and to their families. In addition to housing Toronto's only child & youth advocacy centre, Boost CYAC offers a number of direct services including: primary prevention, public education, trauma assessment and therapy, Internet child exploitation counselling/referral and court preparation for child witnesses. www.boostforkids.org
SOCIAL MEDIA
@BoostforKids
#RedSandProject
#GivingTuesdayCA
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Contact Information:
MEDIA CONTACT
Lindsay Jolie
Director of Communications & Community Relations
(416) 560-7568
jolie@boostforkids.org
