3/1/2013 UPDATE: Dreamcatchers would like to express our sincere gratitude for the very generous contribution that we received today!!  Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men’s Gala Fundraiser raised $2100 for Dreamcatchers for Abused Children. You can view photos of their Gratitude Gala Event HERE. They also added us to their “CHARITY” section on their website HERE.  THANK YOU!!!

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“The Gratitude Gala” Event
Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men continues to work to raise much needed funds for children. Each year LJ collects donations to raise money for local charities and children in need. All LJ locations work together raising money in their area for the kids. Over the past two years LJ has raised $18,000 – most by one to two dollar donations from our customers. In addition to the partnership with Children’s Miracle Network, LJ also supports many other local charities in the communities they do business in and around.

The Gratitude Gala Event will be held on February 2, 2013 at the TWIN LAKES GOLF & SWIM CLUB (Oakland, MI). All raffle and giveaway donations will go to Dreamcatchers for Abused Children. We would like to thank Lady Jane’s, Chad Johnson ~ LJ’s CEO, and Jennifer Golas ~ Corporate Headquarters Manager for this amazing opportunity! We greatly appreciate your support!!

LEARN MORE ABOUT LADY JANE’S HAIRCUTS FOR MEN

FOLLOW LADY JANE’S ON FACEBOOK

Charity

“Being actively involved and giving back to the communities, in which we do business, is very important to me and my company. Through the numerous programs supported by Lady Jane’s, we hope to make a positive impact on those who are less fortunate and those who need extra funding to run their community based programs.” SEE THEIR PAST CHARITY WORK HERE

For the first time in American history on April 22, 2013, individuals in over 200 cities in 50 states will join together in national walks to raise awareness of child abuse and crimes against children in the U.S.   I look forward to seeing you all there! Dreamcatchers for Abused Children’s march will be held in PORT HURON, MI on April 22, 2013!!

Official MILLION MARCH AGAINST CHILD ABUSE Facebook Page

Official Registered Cites Listings

Dreamcatchers MILLION MARCH VS. CHILD ABUSE Facebook Page

Dreamcatchers MILLION MARCH VS. CHILD ABUSE Event  (Port Huron, MI)

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UPDATE: Easter Basket Drive 2013 A Success!!  READ MORE HERE

Our organization, Dreamcatchers for Abused Children, has been doing fundraisers for at-risk children in the community for three years now. We do back to school fundraisers in the fall, Christmas stockings in the winter, and our biggest event: the Easter Basket Drive. We build each basket (or stocking in the winter) personally for each child. We work with the shelters and housing commissions in advance to get the age and genders of the children in their program, then build a basket personalized for each child.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE & TO DONATE TO OUR EASTER BASKET DRIVE

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SLIDESHOW OF OUR PAST EASTER BASKET DRIVES

Imagine the trauma of being a child separated from all you know – parents, possessions and home – and not having anything to cling to for comfort. Sadly, each year, hundreds of thousands of children here in the United States must be rescued from severe abuse, neglect or abandonment. Traumatized and facing an uncertain future, they frequently enter shelters and foster care with nothing – no favorite stuffed animal, no special blanket. They are afraid, disoriented, and desperate for comfort. That’s where we come in.

The My Stuff Bags Foundation, with the help of thousands of people across the country, provides these unfortunate children with new belongings and new hope through its innovative “My Stuff Bags” program. READ MORE HERE

Could you please help “Children, Hope & Horses” get more votes to win $25,000 in this charity challenge? They work with abused children and horses and they help each other to love again. Thank you!!!

This is Maxisworthamillion “Max”. He joined Children, Hope & Horses in October 2007 after being rescued. Max was found tied to a tree on a four foot lead. Moldy hay and grain were close by and he had an algae filled trash can lid to drink out of. Not only was Max unable to move around, but he was unable to lay down comfortably to sleep. When Children, Hope & Horses received the call that Max needed a home we immediately said yes.

When Max arrived he was scared and unable to trust, like the children with whom we work. The children were given the task of helping Max learn to trust. This a was wonderful journey for both Max and the children. Today Max loves attention, to be brushed and be with people.

Please help Children, Hope & Horses continue their work and VOTE today and everyday.

It only takes ONE click and only a second of your time!!
http://ftigreatcharitychallenge.com/home/vote

PETITION: Strengthen Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Child Abusers

We ask the Federal government to increase the offense level for all child related crimes and to help us raise awareness of this growing epidemic spreading across our country. We are planning a march to Washington DC April 22, 2013 and we would like the President to march with us to raise awareness about child abuse.

OTTAWA — The mother of a boy killed by Clifford Olson praised the Conservative government Sunday for announcing new income support for parents who take time off work when their children are murdered or go missing. Under the new federal program, the parents of children under the age of 18 who die or disappear as the result of a probable criminal offence will get up to $350 per week for up to 35 weeks as long as the applicant earned $6,500 in the previous calendar year or the previous 52 weeks and take leave from their job. READ MORE HERE

On June 22, 2007 the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to forever mark January 11th as a day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims of human trafficking across the globe.  This National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day we invite you join BTFF and our partners for a special three part event; Discover, Witness and Act Against Human Trafficking. READ MORE HERE

Washington (CNN) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and European Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom will launch a new effort to fight child sexual abuse at a ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday. “The initiative aims to unite decision-makers all around the world to better identify and assist victims and to prosecute the perpetrators,” the Justice Department said in a press release. The initiative will be called the Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online.  READ MORE HERE

Dreamcatchers for Abused Children’s 1st Annual Masquerade Ball was held on Friday, October 25, 2012 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, OK. It was hosted by Dreamcatchers National Spokeswoman, Debbie Splawn-Bunch. The event was a huge success and we would like to share some of the moments captured with you (see video below).

We would like to publicly thank all of the sponsors, contributors, and attendees for making these event successful! We greatly appreciate your support!!

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Please make plans to attend our 2nd Annual Masquerade Ball next year on October 25, 2013 at Remington Park!!!  We would love to see you there!! For more info, please visit:

http://okcmasquerade.vpweb.com/default.html

CLICK HERE TO SEE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS OF THE MASQUERADE BALL

(Thank you to “Timeless Memories” for photographing this event!!)

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We seek to raise awareness of and ask for tougher sentencing for violent crimes against children in this country! MACA is a non-partisan, grass roots, nationwide effort, to UNITE ALL Child Advocates together in solidarity for peaceful demonstrations against crimes against children in the U.S. on April 22, 2013.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Stand Up Today and participate and support these walks! We will be demonstrating in Washington and all around the country. The list of cities are listed below and updated as new cities join.

Register to walk by sending your name, phone and email and city to:
MACAcoordinator@gmail.com
or visit your individual city’s MACA facebook page and register there.

Want to organize a walk in your area? There are only a few things you need to do as the “Lead” organizer in your area:
1. Register as a “Lead” by emailng us your contact info to: MACAcoordinator@gmail.com name, email and phone#. We will keep you updated with full support. We will have monthly conference calls. We will guide and support you up until the march. People+Signs+Media = Change!

2. Find out the guidelines for a peaceful demonstration (call the local police department) in most cities, you do not need a permit. NOTE: IT IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO HAVE A PUBLIC GATHERING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY and most cities will welcome this cause with open arms.

AFTER YOU REGISTER AS A LEAD WITH US:
1. Start a distribution email list in your email box. Start a word or excel document to keep all your marcher’s contact info. You will be emailing them once a month with exciting news. Once a week, send all your new supporter’s contact info to MACAcoordinator@gmail.com and put in the subject line: Marchers in (list city & State). Then list their contact info for our national records.

2. Ask Strong local leadership in each of your areas to come out and speak at these events. Whomever you consider as a role model,leader or pillar of the community, please book them now. Do not wait, their calendars may fill quickly. Send in their information as well.

3. Advertise, advertise, advertise on social media; build your FB COMMUNITY PAGE (LIKES) for the largest turnout in the U.S.! Understand FB’s policies listed below, so you make sure you are not spamming and lose your page. (We will be keeping a national register on all participants as a back up for you.) All Leads who wish to start a FB Community page for your city/state, we ask you follow these guidelines: Titles must be, Million March Against Child Abuse (MACA), your city/state. All persons wishing to support your march must register by supplying you with their name, email address and phone. That information must be given weekly to us to enter into our national database.

4. Identify local media reporters and email addresses and document the information, so in March and then again a week before the march, we will provide you with a press release to send to them.

5. Begin to compile a list of student groups/clubs/organizations at your nearest college. Get the President or VP’s email and phone information. They will come out in droves to support you. Explain to them how CAN is still a silent epidemic and we desperately need their voice during National Child Abuse Prevention Month next April 22, 2013, which is a Monday. Tell them there will be marches going on in DC and nationally. Demonstrations will be held at your courthouse. Monthly Lead Conference Calls begin in October. You will be notified by email. Please make sure you add the email address, MACAcoordinator@gmail.com to your safe senders list.

List of cities already registered for demonstrations:
Alaska – Anchorage, Fairbanks (and surrounding areas)
Arizona – Phoenix
Arkansas – Tuckerman
California – Bakersfield, Covina, Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto,
Napa, San Francisco, Solono, Ventura, Visalia
Florida – Boynton Beach, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale
Miami, Orlando,Palm Beach
Georgia – Atlanta,Bainbridge
Idaho – Boise, Idaho Falls
Illinois – Algonquin, Champaign, Chicago, Woodstock
Indiana – Bedford
Kansas – Olathe
Kentucky – Paducah
Michigan – Bay City, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Pontiac
Minnesota – Minneapolis
Mississippi -New Albany, Ripley, Ponatac,
Missouri – Kansas City,Parkville
Nevada – Carson City, Las Vegas, Reno
New Jersey – Wrightstown
New Mexico – Albuquerque
New York – Long Island, Rochester
North Carolina – Charlotte
Pennsylvania – Dallastown, Philadelphia
Ohio – Cleveland, Columbus, Xenia
Oklahoma – Elk City, Sayre
Oregon – Grant Pass, Portland, Salem
South Carolina – Conway, Greenville,Laurens, Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg, Westminister
Tennessee – Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville
Texas – El Paso, San Antonio, Sugarland
Utah – Salt Lake City
Virginia – Virginia Beach
Washington – Olympia, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver
Washington, D.C
West Virginia – Huntington
Wisconsin – Madison
Wyoming – Riverton

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: MILLION DOLLAR MARCH AGAINST ABUSE

Million March Against Child Abuse (MACA) is a non-partisan, grass roots, nationwide effort to UNITE ALL Child Advocates in solidarity; the public, or organizations, associations and agencies who have a vested interest in children to engage in peaceful demonstrations against crimes against children in the U.S on April 22, 2013. We are not asking for money, only your endorsement and support for the event. We have outlined details below on how you may support this effort. We need nationwide support to give our nation’s children a voice. Please join us! Check out About section for locations list. We updating it constantly. Not every state step up – We need leaders!! We need everyone to attend!!  Special Guest Speakers and Celebrities will be attending in DC. If you know for certain you are going to DC, please register by emailing us your complete contact info, mailing address, email and phone to: info@cwavusa.org

DREAMCATCHERS NEW COMMUNITY EDUCATION OUTREACH COORDINATOR

We are proud to present Pamela Oziah, our new Community Education Outreach Coordinator. Pamela has a BA and has many years of experience working with the Port Huron Sheriff’s Department as well as St. Clair County Community College. She will be focusing on local community outreach education programs within businesses, schools, churches, and public sectors. She will also be working on helping us to obtain funding and grants within the State of Michigan. Welcome, Pamela!!

EMAIL: pamela. dreamcatchers @yahoo.com

The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left at home alone. However, consider a child’s age and maturity level. For example, if a child is extremely impulsive, it might be best to wait until he or she is older than 12. There appear to be very few states with specific regulations about the age of a child left at home alone. However, since the number of latchkey kids is growing significantly due to 2 income parents and single parents and guardians, there is a growing movement within state agencies to set guidelines. READ MORE HERE

A call to action at ThePetitionSite.com created by Christian Miller targets the Iranian government and requests that it not legalize the forced marriage of girls under the age of 10. The petition has garnered the signatures of many thousands of people worldwide, a number of whom have expressed outrage at the Islamic Republic’s move, which some consider to reflect an attitude towards female children as property and household slaves. Entitled “Iran: Don’t Legalize Marriage for Girls Under 10!” the petition reads:

“The Iranian Parliament recently issued a statement that they regard the law prohibiting marriage for girls under 10 as un-Islamic and illegal. According to Parliament member Mohammad Ali Isfenani, “We must regard nine as being the appropriate age for a girl to have reached puberty and qualified to get married.”  READ MORE HERE