Sunday, May 14, 2006

Lady Vols coach to join Safe Harbor event

Pat Summitt will be guest speaker at "Raisin' the Roof," a June 9 fund-raiser for Safe Harbor, the child advocacy center.

The party will be at the Music Road Hotel & Convention Center in Pigeon Forge. It will include dinner, dancing and a silent and live auction.

Summitt, head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team, is the official spokeswoman of Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center.

Jay Adams of Mix 105.5 will be the master of ceremonies for the event. It begins at 6:30 p.m. and concludes at 11:30. Attire is dressy but not black tie. Seating is limited. Make reservations by calling 453-2638. The cost is $100 per person, with tables seating eight available.

"Proceeds raised from this event will literally be used to raise the roof on Safe Harbor's first facility to serve child-victims of severe abuse," barry Fain, board president, said. The facility will serve the 4th Judicial District, comprised of Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties

"We are very grateful for this year's sponsors," said Donna Koester, Safe Harbor's executive director. "Without their generosity, none of this would be possible."

Sponsors to date include Burchfiel-Overbay & Associates Inc., Colonial Real Estate Inc., Comfort Inn Apple Valley, Gary Woods Photography, The Mountain Press, Music Road Hotel & Convention Center, Riverside Towers, Sevier County Bank, Sevier County Bar Association and Williams Heating & Air.

In one 12-month period, the 4th Judicial District recorded 5,334 total cases of confirmed abuse/neglect. That includes 1,118 cases in Cocke, 567 in Grainger, 1,561 in Jefferson and 2,088 in Sevier. Safe Harbor's efforts will be designed to assist investigators and prosecutors in building a case against perpetrators, while following up with the family to help coordinate counseling.

Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center is an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To learn more, visit www.SafeHarborCAC.com, call 453-2638 or e-mail to DonnaJKoester@aol.com.

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