Beresford Booth is sponsoring Dawson Place’s Hurt to Hope Luncheon Nov 7, 2024
The lawyers and staff at Beresford Booth are fortunate to have the continued opportunity to be involved with many incredible organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest. This November 7, 2024, Beresford Booth is sponsoring Dawson Place’s Hurt to Hope Luncheon and all are invited to attend from 11:30-1 PM at the Edward Hansen Conference Center in the Angel of the Winds Casino in Everett. You can learn more here.
We hope to see you all there!
What is Dawson Place?
In 1984, an Alabama District Attorney met with a victim of child abuse case. The prosecutor asked many questions when the young girl finally asked, “Don’t you people talk to each other?” Other professional agencies interviewed her multiple times before she met with the prosecutor.
This young girl’s pointed question changed the course of care and treatment for other child victims of physical and sexual abuse worldwide, but starting in Alabama. They created a child advocacy center that inspired local Snohomish County Prosecutor Seth Dawson to bring this level of careful treatment to his community. It took years for managers from various programs and agencies to meet and develop their vision, but in 2006, Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center opened. You can see the facility here: What to Expect at Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center – Tour
Since then, Dawson Place has been an international model, which is used an example by other people who are looking to bring better help to their own community’s children. Not only is Dawson Place looked to as an example, but they average assisting 22 new children weekly, totaling more than 15,000 children since they opened. In 2021 alone, 304 forensic interviews and 638 medical exams were completed.
What is the Hurt to Hope Luncheon?
Every November, Dawson Place hosts a fundraising luncheon, which brings diverse members of our community together to discuss what is needed for child victims and expanding Dawson Place’s positive impact on the community.
This year, Justice Bobbe Bridge and Rachel Sottile are the Keynote Speakers. Justice Bobbe Bridge founded the Center for Children & Youth Justice and, Rachel Sottile is the new President & CEO of the Center. Justice Bridge was appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court in 1999, following tenure as a King County Superior Court Judge. In 2006, Justice Bridge founded the Center to improve the outcomes for children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Now, Rachel Sottile continues to execute that mission.
Why is Beresford Booth Involved?
Beresford Booth’s own attorney and former Snohomish County prosecutor, Kelsey Affronte, has joined Dawson Place’s Board of Directors. Kelsey is passionate about giving back to her community, having grown up in Monroe, Washington. Through her experience at the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, she had an opportunity to observe the good work that Dawson Place can do – including minimizing re-traumatization for victims; supporting victims and their families with Dawson Place’s staff, but also their support dogs that attend court with victims; and decorating its facility to demonstrate that these children are not alone.
Kelsey remembers the first time she toured Dawson Place: the bright colored murals, quiet space, and friendly faces. But one room stuck with her – the medical examination room. Each child who goes to Dawson Place for a medical examination is given a sticky hand to throw on the ceiling. Then, each child who comes in for a medical exam knows that they are not alone. Every time a sticky hand falls, staff believe it represents a healing child.
To reduce the number of sticky hands thrown, please commit your support to the Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center. You can do so here: https://www.dawsonplace.org/donate-now/
This year, all of the donations provided at the Luncheon will go 100% towards the operations of Dawson Place!
Conclusion
Dawson Place is a non-profit organization, and it is our privilege to support their exemplary work. You can learn more about Dawson Place and how to support them by visiting their website: https://www.dawsonplace.org
