Venice’s Night of Hope & Healing to Feature Arthur Ashe Courage Award Recipient Emily Meinke This November

The Child Protection Center (CPC) will host the popular annual event Night of Hope & Healing this Fall. The evening raises funds to provide vital support to vulnerable children and survivors of child abuse across Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.
 
The event will take place on Thursday, November 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Venice Community Center. Guests will savor tastings from more than 10 local restaurants, including Sharky’s + Fins, Tarpon Point, Dubz BBQ, and British Open Pub. Attendees will also enjoy signature cocktails, casino games, live and silent auctions, dancing to live music with the popular local band Occasions, and a chance drawing for a ROLEX wristwatch.
 
This year’s celebration will feature former elite gymnast Emily Meinke, recipient of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for speaking out against abuse by former U.S. Olympic doctor Larry Nassar, who will share her story and the power of prevention in a Q&A interview. “When we choose to acknowledge that child abuse doesn’t affect just one individual but entire families and communities, we begin to understand the true power of change,” said Emily. “The impact is far-reaching, but so is the opportunity to interrupt it. Just as trauma creates a ripple effect, so does healing. Awareness, education, conversation, and prevention all ripple outward and protect children.”
 
"Night of Hope & Healing is a celebration of the tremendous progress we’re making as a community to protect our children," said Douglas Staley, CPC's Executive Director. "It's also a promise to those children – a promise that they are not alone and we will fight to protect their right to safety, joy, and to simply be a child. Every ticket helps us strengthen prevention education in local schools, provide critical interventions and medical assessments, and give more children access to specialized, trauma-informed therapy."
 
Tickets are $100 and available at cpcsarasota/events. Night of Hope & Healing is presented by Graci & Dennis McGillicuddy, Karen & Mike Valentino, and Classic Creations in Diamonds & Gold, with further support by Sunset Automotive Group. Michelle and Tony Moore are serving as the event’s co-chairs.
 
The Child Protection Center's (CPC) mission is the prevention, intervention, and treatment of child abuse, as the organization envisions a community where children are safe from abuse and free to thrive. For over 45 years, CPC has been serving Sarasota and DeSoto Counties in the State of Florida and is accredited by the National Children's Alliance. For more information on CPC or to inquire about ways to get involved, please visit www.cpcsarasota.org or call 941-365-1277.