The Dragonfly House Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is like a bandaid. It can’t cure the injury, but it provides the first step in the healing process.
More than 270 people helped provide healing for abused and neglected children by attending The Dragonfly House’s 6th Annual Share the Love fundraiser on February 12 at WinMock in Kinderton, presented by Smith Excavating and the Mebane Foundation.
The community came together for the Share the Love event and raised more than $40,000 to aid the center in its mission of reducing the devastating long-term effects that all forms of child abuse have on children, their families, and society through immediate, coordinated, child focused services, education, and advocacy.
Roaring 20’s Speakeasy Fun!
Upon arrival, the flappers and gangsters attending the 1920’s-styled event browsed and bid on the nearly 80 donated silent auction items, had their pictures taken in the “speakeasy’s” photo booth provided by On Target DJ, and mingled with fellow guests. Afterwards, they enjoyed music by On Target DJ, dinner by Above & Beyond Catering with cupcakes by Meg, awards, a keynote speaker, and a live auction. The emcee was Mocksville Police Detective Lt. Patrick Reagan. Photography was provided by Jessica Marie Photography.
“This is the 6th Share the Love Event our agency has hosted and it is by far the most fun event we have ever had,” said Brandi Reagan, executive director of The Dragonfly House. “To see so many supporters come out dressed in their best 1920’s style outfits and take part in our evening’s activities was truly heart-warming. Our community and these guests are our rock. They help us carry out our mission and allow us to do the work that we do. Without every sponsor, donor, and guest, our agency would not be able to operate. They will never fully know how much of a direct hand they have in making a difference in the lives of the children we serve. Now that the event has past, I hope we gave them a fun evening that they will never forget, but I also hope we opened their eyes and educated them about the work we do and the type of abuse that is happening every day all around them,” she added.
After dinner, Reagan presented two awards.
Jim Gilmore Recognized as Volunteer of the Year
Jim Gilmore was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for his dedication and commitment to helping The Dragonfly House achieve its mission. Jim became a volunteer in October, 2014, and has donated his time nearly every week since then. He assists the Executive Director and the Child Advocate with paperwork, data entry, and filing.
“Jim is a volunteer that we have come to depend on in getting our own jobs done,” said Reagan. “Without his assistance, we would be constantly behind on paperwork. What is great about him, is that he is not only a volunteer, but also someone we talk to, admire, and he has taken on a fatherly role with our staff. It is really nice having him around and having his help.”
Andreia Collins Recognized as Multi-Disciplinary Team Member of the Year
The Multi-Disciplinary Team Member of the Year was presented to Andreia Collins, a Social Worker with Davie County Schools.
“Andreia has been a team member since we opened in October, 2010. She has attended monthly case reviews during the past 5 years and contributed greatly to the cause of ensuring that children do not fall through the cracks or get forgotten once their services are complete with our office,” said Reagan. “She has also volunteered her own time with us over the past 6 years and has been able to get her church, Ijames Baptist Church, to volunteer through their men’s groups, women’s group, and youth group on various services like trimming our shrubbery, cooking meals for support group parents, and cleaning our facility. She is a valuable member of the community and a valuable member of our team.”
The multi-disciplinary team is the foundation of the CAC model. It is made up of representatives from Davie and Davidson Counties and includes members from law enforcement, child protective services and the district attorney’s office, as well as victim witness advocates, mental health therapists, and medical professionals. These professionals work together from the first report until the case is closed to ensure the most effective, coordinated response possible for every child.
Be a Voice for the Children
The highlight of the evening was guest speaker, Molly-Catherine Goodson, M.A. J.D., a speaker and writer who is passionate about child advocacy and bringing professionals together to use a multifaceted approach to address child abuse and other issues affecting children and teenagers in today’s society.
The Liberty Legal Journal and the American Association of Christian Counselors have featured Goodson’s research on both child abuse and teen sexting. Her heart for children and teenagers of the local community drives her to equip and empower others to address the most sensitive societal topics.
Goodson gave a powerful testimony, reminding attendees of the need to raise funds for The Dragonfly House to assist abused children. Goodson suffered abuse as a child and she spoke of how the attorney who defended her as a child when she couldn’t defend herself, inspired her to one day do the same. She shared heartbreaking statistics of the prevalence and long-range effects of child abuse, the most underreported crime.
She challenged attendees to become a community that protects and cares for its children and provides them with the resilience and love that they need.
“As we pour into the lives of these children, we give them a future, we give them hope,” Goodson shared. “What kind of voice are you?” she asked. “Are you the kind of voice that instills resilience and encourages people, or do you send them back into the darkness? I challenge you to be the voice of the children who can’t be a voice for themselves.”
Dragonfly House: All Services are Free & Confidential
Jon Manring conducted a live auction. Some items included trips to Edisto Island and Myrtle Beach, a hot air balloon ride, a suite at the Winston-Salem Dash, and sponsorships of counseling sessions for children at The Dragonfly House.
At the end of the evening, Wanda Bowles, chairman of the board of directors, announced that The Dragonfly House would be building a new, larger facility on land purchased on Yadkinville Road in Mocksville.
“Our most precious resources are our children, and we need to take care of them,” Bowles said.
The Share the Love event is the largest fundraiser for The Dragonfly House, which has served more than 2,000 children since opening in October of 2010. The Dragonfly House served 471 last year alone. The nationally accredited nonprofit organization has experienced a reduction in funding over the past few years while having an increase in the number of children needing to be served.
“Fundraisers like this one are essential to cover the expenses of programs provided and other operational costs of the CAC, which is primarily grant funded,” Reagan said. Services provided through the Dragonfly House include: forensic interviews, child abuse medical examinations, child and court advocacy, mental health treatment, coordinated case review and community education. The Dragonfly House serves children from birth to 17 in Davie, Davidson, Yadkin and surrounding counties for serious neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse or being a witness to violence. All services are free and confidential.
“The staff and committee would like to thank all of the businesses and individuals who support us by sponsoring the event, donating items or just coming out,” said Reagan. “We could not do all the things we do for these children without fundraisers like this, and without the support of our community.”
Event Sponsors:
PRESENTING SPONSOR
SMEX, Smith Excavating, LLC
Mebane Foundation
PATRON SPONSOR
Wake Forest Baptist Health Davie Medical Center
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
Fuller Welding & Fabricators
Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center
Yadkinville Sunrise Rotary Club
TABLE SPONSOR
Community Management Corporation
Davie Boat & RV Storage
EMA Resources
Joel & Beth Edwards
Justin Draughn Construction
Law Offices of Vogler Koontz-Stockert
Mocksville Rotary Club
One Construction
Smith & Davis Foundation
PROGRAM SPONSOR
Hillsdale Real Estate Group
Integrated Solutions International, LLC
Sheetz
Thomasville Pediatrics
Welborn Law
The following sponsors provided auction items:
2520 Tavern, Advance Auto Parts (Mocksville), Advance Fire Department, Adventure Landing, Airbound Trampoline Park, Alex’s Battle Branch Café, All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farms, Amanda Beck, Amy Suttle, Anonymous, Appalachian State University, Army Navy Store (Lexington), AutoZone (Mocksville), Avis Fine Jewelry (Thomasville), AvL Originals, Beach ‘N Tans, Bermuda Run Country Club, Best Firearms LLC, Betty & David Poteat, Bleu Restaurant & Bar, Bobbie & Kent Reichert, Booneville Flower and Décor, Brandi & Pat Reagan, Brooke Lowder, Cake and All Things Yummy, Carolina Hurricanes, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Checkers, Charlotte Hornets, Chick-fil-A, Children’s Museum of Wilmington, Christine & Terry Bralley, Cimarron Steak House, Costco, Counter Point Music, Daughn Eagan, Davidson County DSS – Thomasville Units, Davie County Association of Teacher Assistants, Davie County Chamber of Commerce, Davie County Quilt Guild, Davie Outfitters, Deano’s BBQ, D-REX Pharmacy, Durham Bulls, Ellen Drechsler, Ellis Jewelers (Lexington), Erin Ella Boutique, Farrago, Food Lion (Advance), Food Lion (Lexington), Food Lion (Mocksville), Gary & Cynthia Baldwin, Glamorous Nails (Mocksville), Grandfather Mountain State Park, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Greensboro Science Center, Gym 365, Hampton Inn Bermuda Run, Hip Chics Boutique, Holiday Inn Express & Suites – The Vineyard, Honor Darling, John Budd, Justin Draughn Construction, Kathy & Kevin Bokeno, Kent’s Kitchen, Kersey Valley, Ketchie Creek Bakery, Kim’s Nails (Advance), La Carreta (Mocksville), Lanier’s True Value Hardware, Lesa Branch, Lexington Home Brands, Life’s a Stitch, Little Italy (Welcome), Little Richards (Yadkinville), LJVM Coliseum, Lowe’s Foods (Advance), Magic Mart (Lexington), Main St. Canines, Marbles Kids Museum, Massage by Megan, Maw Maw’s Kitchen, Meg Brown Home Furnishings, Monte Del Ray, Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, Myra Cox, Nascar Hall of Fame, NC Zoo, New Jin Jin Buffet, Oak Valley Golf Club, Parkway Ford (Lexington), Petsense, PNC Arena (Raleigh), Polka Dots, Portrait Innovations, Premier Jewelry – Alana Geiger, Purple Pig Emporium, Quality Hardware, Ralph & Jean Ashley, Raylen Vineyards & Winery, Scarlett’s Unique Boutique, Sciworks Science Center, Scoops, Sea Life Aquarium, Sheila & Todd Smith, Soaring Adventures of America, South Fork Church of Christ, Southern Ties Boutique, Sunnybrook Farm, Styled Gatherings Boutique & Gift Shop, Sweet Daddy’s Jewelry, SweetFrog, Tanglewood Park, Taste of Italy, The Breathing Room, The Country Veterinary Hospital, The Daisy Depot, The Nest & Hive Shoppe, The Olde Homestead, The Richard Childress Racing Museum, The Sportsman’s Lodge, Theo’s Italian & Family Restaurant, Today’s Nails (Mocksville), Torque Performance and Fitness LLC, Tweetsie Railroad, USS North Carolina Battleship, Venezia Family Restaurant, Village Tavern, Village Way Veterinary Hospital, Wild Mountain Designs & Art, Winston-Salem Children’s Museum, Winston-Salem DASH, Winston-Salem Symphony, WXLV ABC 45, Yoga Dogz
About the Dragonfly House
The Dragonfly House is a fully accredited member of the National Children’s Alliance and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of NC. It is proud to be a partner agency of the United Way of Davie County, the United Way of Davidson County, and the Yadkin United Fund.
For more information, visit www.thedragonflyhouse.com or contact Brandi Reagan at 336-753-6155, or brandi@thedragonflyhouse.com. Contributions are appreciated anytime, and can be made online through the website or by mail.