We measure our success one child at a time. Since 1990, Seminole County Friends of Abused Children (SCFAC) has changed the lives of countless abused and neglected children throughout the community with funding that lets them know they matter. Prepare to be moved. Prepare to be a bit shaken. We’re proud to be a non-profit organization with successes that have made such an indelible impact.
As the week comes to a close and we are looking back on this years Secret Santa, we are very thankful for our Donors. Without them we wouldn’t have been able to provide Christmas Presents for the children represented by the Seminole County Guardian Ad Litem ! Below you can find the transformation of the facility that our partner, Metal Essence, underwent through out the month.
For more information about our program please contact Aundria Cohen, Secretary, at aundria@friendsofabusedchildren.com
Please join us for our first ever Zumbathon on March 18, 2018 from 2pm – 4pm! The event will be held at the Longwood Community Building at 200 West Warren Avenue, Longwood, FL.
Our Hosting Zumba Instructors are: Adrienne Williams, Sarah Jones, Jennifer Morrison, Carla Braga, Luzy (Luz) Santiago, Lourdes Leon, Maria Vargas, Andrea Castelli, and Mercedes Morales.
All proceeds will be to support the children in the Guardian ad Litem Program in Seminole County to attend Summer Camp and Extracurricular activities in 2018.
Tickets are $10 at the door or you can call Faith Shorthouse at 407.721.6555.
Please join us for an evening with FRIENDS on September 7th, 2017. Last year’s event was very successful and we hope to make this year even better!
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your participation in the Light of Hope Ceremony on Sunday, April 2nd. Both the Resource Fair and the Ceremony were a success. We had so many wonderful organizations in attendance sharing their information at the Resource Fair; Bikers Against Child Abuse, Boys Town of Central Florida, Children’s Home Society Healthy Families, Community Based Care of Central Florida, Department of Children & Families, Florida Department of Health – Tobacco Prevention & Healthy Start Programs, Heart of Florida United Way, Kids House Wayne Densch Child Advocacy Center, Kinder Konsulting & Parents Too, Renaissance Massage Studios, Safe House of Seminole, Sanford Police Department, Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Seminole Prevention Coalition, Seminole County Public Schools – Great Start Program, The Grove, The Sharing Center and Visions TCM Services. We thank each and every one of you for taking the time to participate and share your respective information.
We are so appreciative of all our local First Responders that were in attendance and honored the abused and neglected children by participating in our Lights and Siren Car Procession. There were many from local area police departments; Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Sanford, the Florida Highway Patrol, Seminole County Sheriff, and the Seminole County Fire Department. The Procession was quite impressive with the Police and Fire vehicles making their way to the Ceremony. And let us not forget the Tri County Chapter of Biker’s Against Child Abuse – the roar of the motorcycles added that much more to the Procession.
We are thankful to all the dignitaries that were able to take time from their busy schedules to attend our event; Mayor Bates, Mayor Durso, Commissioner Bob Dallari, Honorable Judge McIntosh and Sheriff Lemma. We are honored to have received Proclamations from both Mayor Bates and Governor Rick Scott proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
We are grateful for the financial support we received from the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando. We look forward to working together on many more future events.
A special thanks to the Girl Scouts Citrus Singer’s choir for providing the most beautiful and uplifting songs throughout the ceremony. And of course, their choir director, the talented Susie Reale.
To our Master of Ceremony, Marla Weech from Channel 13 News – we are so appreciative of her support. She has been gracious enough to act as Master of Ceremony for 2 years. She was so passionate and engaging throughout our event.
And we would like to thank the community for coming out and showing your support. Our hope is that all that were in attendance will continue to share our message and help us to put a stop to the abuse and neglect of our children.
And last but not least, we offer our utmost gratitude to both Marty and Autumn for having the courage to share their stories with us, for shining a light into a world that no child should ever have to endure. They, and others like them are the reason we all must pay attention, open our eyes and act to protect the innocent lives that are being impacted by this tragedy. Together we can make a difference.
Regards,
Yvonne Stimac
Thank you AAGO for your support! Your very gracious donation will serve to assist many children and young adults in need of assistance.
Pictured: Sean Bailey (President of AAGO Foundation), Faith Shorthouse (President of SCFAC), and Michelle Brightman (Treasurer of SCFAC)
J.H. entered the dependency system in 2011 and was considered a high risk. That changed when his foster dad encouraged him to try out for baseball. At tryouts, J.H. cracked the ball out of the park three times! This was the turning point for J.H. For the first time in his life, J.H. felt, “Somebody wants me for me.” This young man had struggled with self-esteem and maintaining a positive attitude. It all turned around with his involvement in baseball, a game keeps him in check, continually motivates him, and helps him set his sights on a positive future. This year he turned 12 and asked for a birthday party with a Tampa Bay Rays theme. FRIENDS assisted in purchasing front row tickets for him to attend a baseball game between the Rays and the Houston Astros. As a surprise, his Guardian ad Litem arranged for him to meet the Tampa Bay Rays team members. The day was made complete when the Jumbo Tron wished him a Happy Birthday and J.H. accompanied the home team to exchange the lineup cards with the Houston Manager.
A.J. struggled with Algebra during his senior year. FRIENDS provided In-home tutoring to assist him, and he was able to make enough progress to graduate from Oviedo High School in May. He is working full time during the summer, and will be entering Seminole State College in the fall. He has expressed deep gratitude to FRIENDS for assisting him with tutoring.
