WVCAN & WVCADV Receive Donations to help Survivors of Abuse
Last week, the 2021 Mrs. West Virginia America, Cydney Fields, presented checks to two West Virginia victim-serving agencies to support the work of survivors of abuse – the WV Child Advocacy Network and the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Fields has a passion for children, working to make the state safer for families. As a social worker, she has worked statewide and nationally, educating others through training, policy development, and public awareness events about the impact of violence on adults and children. She specializes in rural community resource development by understanding the challenges faced by those living in areas where access to resources is limited.
“As a social worker, I am driven to inspire hope and promote safety for others. As Mrs. West Virginia, I want to take that same passion and use it to uplift the voices of those that often go unheard,” shared Mrs. West Virginia Cydney Fields. “I am grateful to know that with these individual donations to WVCADV and WVCAN, coupled with the work of others like me, West Virginia adult and child victims of violence can live in a safer state.”
West Virginia’s children have never been more at risk – most are unvaccinated, facing disruptions to their schedules from quarantines, facing uncertainty with caregivers’ stress – and this is all on top of the already overwhelming prevalence of abuse and neglect. According to Darkness to Light, one in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday.
“West Virginia’s 21 child advocacy centers have continued to work day-in and day-out to restore the lives of child survivors of abuse, despite facing impending federal funding cuts. Now, more than ever, we need leaders like Mrs. West Virginia to stand up for children and to safeguard them against abuse and neglect,” shared Kate Flack, CEO of the WV Child Advocacy Network.
Joyce Yedlosky, Team Coordinator for the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence added, “We thank Cydney for choosing domestic violence and child abuse awareness as her Mrs. West Virginia platform. This generous donation and the awareness she is raising will impact survivor safety and help make West Virginia a Safer State of Family.”
This money was raised during the recent state pageant through the “Fabulous Face Competition” by all contestants vying for the title of Mrs./Miss West Virginia titles. Half of the proceeds from this competition was split between the winners’ causes of choice and the other half going to Victoria’s Voice Foundation – the national philanthropy for Mrs. West Virginia. They provide education and support to those with substance use disorder by the promotion of naloxone and harm reduction.
Discussion about this post