Child Advocacy Center celebrates President & CEO Sherry Kitchens’ 20-year anniversary at annual fundraiser
Press release from the Child Advocacy Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is celebrating another year of helping children in Alachua County heal from their trauma caused by abuse, neglect, and human trafficking. But this year we are especially recognizing our fearless leader, CAC President & CEO Sherry Kitchens, for her 20th Anniversary leading the efforts! Sherry has been leading the team for 20 out of the now 26 years of collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement officers, medical professionals, the Child Protection Team, and more and providing advocacy, forensic interviewing, therapy, and emergency response services in a child-friendly space. This amazing work is not possible without support from our wonderful community. This Thursday, October 23rd, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Child Advocacy Center, along with 300 guests and volunteers, will come together at the Santa Fe River Ranch in Alachua for an unforgettable evening of celebrating hope and healing. Guests will enjoy a buffet-style sit-down dinner from Hills BBQ & Catering, live music from Clay Brooker, signature drink and bourbon tasting sponsored by The Good Pour, our newest mission video produced by Merge Event Group, live and silent auctions, & more!
The event also features a separate online silent auction that is OPEN NOW through this Friday, October 24, at 9 p.m. Anyone can register to bid!
Click here for more information about the event
All proceeds from the Child Advocacy Center’s 17th Annual Signature Fundraiser, Gainesville Gone Wild… West, will directly support the CAC and its mission to break the cycle of child abuse in Alachua County. Since its inception in 1999, the CAC has made tremendous strides in creating a compassionate community where children and families are supported as they heal from trauma and violence. We strongly believe that every child deserves a safe and happy childhood. As members of our community, we recognize the importance for all of us to work together to break the cycle of child abuse and improve outcomes for child victims and their families. We know the impact the CAC and its partner agencies have on our community and their ability to provide a child-friendly, trauma-responsive space where children can transition from victims and survivors to thrivers! To date, thousands of children have received services and are thriving today.
In 2024. the CAC served 3,964 children and caregivers. Of those, 63 were child sex trafficking cases, 754 were physical abuse cases, 908 were sexual abuse cases, and 239 required a specialized forensic interview — all right here in Alachua County. Unfortunately, the CAC has seen an increase in children needing protection due to the severity of the abuse they have experienced since the beginning of the pandemic. This means the need for the CAC is even more critical than ever before. Proceeds from the Helping Kids Heal will fund the annual operational expenses of the CAC and allow thousands of children in Alachua County receive necessary services in order to heal. The CAC couldn’t do what they do without the generous support of this community, and we are incredibly grateful to have so many stand next to them in their efforts to break the cycle of abuse in our community!