Child Advocacy Network To Host Annual Fundraiser For Helping Survivors Of Abuse

The Child Advocacy Network is getting ready for its annual "Candy Ball" event fundraiser to help raise money to assist in its mission of helping child abuse victims and their families.

Joining us Friday morning is Bob Beard from Child Advocacy Network and Sean Kouplen who is one of the chairs for Candy Ball.

What does the Child Advocacy Network do?

"So the Child Advocacy Network started in 1988. And we are really, if you will, the first responders for child abuse in the Tulsa County and surrounding areas. We receive a child when we get a report of child abuse. And then when we surround that child with services and provide them the best care that we can to start the healing process, from the trauma of whatever abuse might have taken place to the child. So they're able to come and tell their story at one location one time, instead of going to a lot of different other places in the Tulsa area, to have to tell their story over and over and be re-traumatized," Bob said.

What is the Candy Ball?

"It's gonna be really fun. So it's next Saturday, so it's March the 9th at six o'clock. It'll be at Margaritaville River Spirit Casino. It's Havana Nights. So hence, I am wearing linen pants in winter. Everybody was asking me about this at breakfast this morning. We've got great auction items, raffles, dancing, you name it. We are going to have a great time and raise funds for CAN," Sean said.

What are other ways to help the Child Advocacy Network?

"So we have comfort items that we need. For every client that comes through, we provide a brand new stuffed animal and blanket. So volunteers in the community if we ever needed a thing, we need to provide almost 5,000 of those a year to be able to give out to children. And that's a new blanket and a brand new stuffed animal. They feel that it's theirs. They feel comforted as they lead the way," Bob said.

CLICK HERE to learn more about CAN and the Candy Ball.