Advocacy Center Helps To Prevent Child Abuse



When complaints surfaced about a grandson’s possible abuse, a caring grandparent sought guidance from the Child Advocacy Center.

“The Child Advocacy Center was a wonderful help in a dark time and provided support and advice needed to make good decisions,” the grandparent said this week in reflecting about the services offered.

Executive Director Sharon DeBoer said CAC unites with the Department of Children's Services, law enforcement, and the District Attorney's Office to investigate and prosecute child abuse cases and help children and their families heal from the trauma and victimization of the abuse. Since 2000, the team investigated and prosecuted over 6,000 cases of child abuse in Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

For the grandparent, CAC’s staff referred the family to people who understand child abuse and the issues involved.

“The people (at CAC) do a wonderful job and steered us to an excellent lawyer who gave us a list of what we needed to do to keep custody of our grandson,” the grandparent explained.

After years of battles, the grandson moved forward. He’s earning straight A’s in school and enjoying his childhood.

The grandparent supports CAC’s mission to help children and families heal and plans to financially help the center by adopting rubber ducks for the Child Advocacy Center Duck Derby June 11 at the Sportsman’s Club on Medical Center Parkway.

By adopting a duck for $5, the grandparent will be eligible to win a $5,000 grand prize or 13 other prize packages. Chances to win are increased by buying more ducks. People may donate $25 for a six-quack, $50 for a Quacker’s Dozen of 12 or $100 for a Flock of Ducks with 25 adoptions.

Ducks may be adopted at Demos’ restaurant, US Bank, FirstBank, Top of the Block, Bell Jewelers, Reeves-Sain, Mills Family Pharmacy, The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro Post, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and First Bank. Ducks may also be adopted in Cannon County at the Child Advocacy Center at 214 W. Water St., First Bank at 101 W. Main St. and First National Bank at 801 W. Main St. in Woodbury. Ducks may also be purchased online at www.duckrace.com/murfreesboro.  Information about the race is also available on Facebook at Child Advocacy Center Duck Race.

Duck Derby events will kick off at noon with the Family Fun Festival where families can enjoy food, entertainment, children’s games and activities outside the Sportsman’s Club at 1231 Medical Center Parkway.

Auctioneers will sell large rubber ducks autographed by celebrities at 4:30 p.m. Ducks will hit the water for the derby at 5:23 p.m.

Queen of the Quackers Kristin Demos predicts 10,000 adopted ducks will glide during the race to prevent child abuse and help children who have been abused. The person who adopts the first duck to cross the finish line will win the $5,000 prize.

Other prizes include:

• Second prize: A week at Sugar Beach Condominiums in Orange Beach, Ala., with tickets to Gulf Coast Zoo and meals at Ducks’ Diner.

• Third prize:  Gatlinburg Getaway including a three-night stay at a cabin, admissions to Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens, Dollywood and Fort Fun for laser tag, 3-D Theater and bumper cars, miniature golf, Rafting in the Smokies, Old Gatlinburg Golf and Games, Venture Motion Ride Movie Theater, Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway, Wilderness in the Smokies and one complimentary night at Stone Hill Lodge.

• Fourth prize:  $500 gift card to Demos’ restaurant.

• Fifth prize: $500 gift card to Bell Jewelers.

• Sixth prize: Professional fisherman Joey Monelone’s Guided Fishing Trip.

• Seventh prize: Memphis Moonlight, one night stay at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, admissions to Chucalissa Museum, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Graceland, Lichterman Nature Center, Memphis Botanic Garden, National Civil Rights Museum, Pink Palace Family Museums, Pink Palace Family Museum, the Cotton Museum and Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum.

• Eighth prize: Duck River Expedition including Normandy Cottage weekend stay, Normandy Kayaks and Weekend Kayak Rental.

• Ninth prize: Ladies Prize Pack including Chanel of Dillard’s, Green Hills Mall Women’s Prize Basket, Chanel Gift Basket, Top of the Block Women’s Prize Package and Synergy Spa Pack.

• 10th prize: Reelfoot Lake Fisherman’s Getaway at Boyette’s Resort, including a cottage on Friday and Saturday for two adults and two children, Boyette’s Dining Room (recently featured on “Tennessee Crossroads,”) and Bo’s Landing Boat Rental.

• 11th prize: The Murfreesboro Treat including a family pass to the Discovery Center, $75 gift card for four-adult Sunday brunch at B. McNeel’s restaurant, one-year membership to Cox Family Martial Arts, four family passes to Go USA Fun Park, four admissions to Phazer Kraze Laser Tag and four admissions to the Sam Davis Home.

• 12th prize: Nashville Night, one year family membership to Adventure Science Center, four admissions to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art, weekend stay for two at Nashville Downtown Courtyard by Marriott, two meals at Pancake Pantry, four admissions to Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Sounds baseball game, Nashville Symphony, Tennessee State Museum Gift Bag and a family pass at Travelers Rest Plantation and Museum.

• 13th prize: Day trip to Chattanooga with admissions to Chattanooga’s Southern Belle Riverboat, Creative Discovery Museum, Hunter Museum of American Art, Ruby Falls and the Tennessee Aquarium.

• 14th prize: Weekend trip to Huntsville with two-night stay at Embassy Suites and Spa including complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and manager’s reception each evening and admissions to Burritt on the Mountain, Early Works Museums, Huntsville Botanical Garden, Huntsville Museum of Art and Sci-Quest Hands-on Science Center.

For more information, contact Executive Director Sharon DeBoer of the Child Advocacy Center at 867-9000.