Safe Places' Cinderella's Ball Offers Happy Endings to Children, Families

For some kids in Arkansas, life is no fairy tale. Many children witness or experience violence and abuse in their lives, either at home, school or in the community, and help can seem like an elusive dream. Safe Places in Little Rock, however, can be the fairy godmother for children and families who have experienced the horrors of violence and abuse.

On September 26, Safe Places will host its inaugural fundraising event, the Cinderella's Ball, to raise funding and awareness to support the organization's counseling, advocacy, education and information services. Kathy Findley, executive director of Safe Places, has watched the staff and volunteers transform from an all-business committee into Cinderella's mice - magical creatures who reach beyond their assigned roles to ensure the event becomes an enchanted experience.

"We loved the story of Cinderella, because she was a child forced to live in the dirt and ash of a fireplace," Findley said. "In the end, she achieved her dreams through caring outsiders - her fairy godmother, the kitchen mice, the prince. Safe Places' version of the fable is to advocate, counsel and teach children and families to break the cycle of violence in their lives and create their own happy endings." The Ball begins at 6 p.m. at the Arkansas Governor's Mansion on Friday, September 26. Participants can peruse the silent auction while sipping wine and beer, enjoy a three-course meal and dance to the David Rosen Orchestra. Emcees for the event are David Bazzel and Katie Bailey, Miss Arkansas 2007.

To contribute to Safe Places or for more information about the Cinderella's Ball, contact Fred Findley at 501- 351-4673 or fhfindley@SafePlacesLR.org, or access www.safeplacesLR.org.

Safe Places is a 501(c) 3 nonprofi t organization that provides counseling, advocacy, education and information to children and families who have experienced the horrors of violence and abuse. Through its professional staff, victims of violence and abuse receive trauma counseling, support groups, violence prevention education, court advocacy and compassionate care; and, through its volunteer Board of Directors, Safe Places works to create safe places for children and families.