Gingerbread House luncheon to help support programs

Beth Holloway, mother of Natalee Holloway, who disappeared on the last night of her senior trip in Aruba in 2005, will deliver her message of hope, faith and personal safety at the Gingerbread House “Partners in Prevention” luncheon held noon Oct. 16 at Sam’s Town.

Holloway speaks at high schools, colleges, churches and conventions, to law enforcement officials, attorney generals, mayors and professional organizations. Holloway had a career as a speech pathologist for children with special needs for 24 years before the tragedy.

Similar to Holloway, Jessica Milan Miller, executive director of the Gingerbread House, said courage and resilience inspire her daily. “So often I am reminded of how precious life is and how important it is to protect our loved ones, especially our children,” she said.

Funds raised will be used to support the programs offered by the Gingerbread House for victims of child sexual and severe physical abuse, so that all child victims may continue to receive critically needed services at no charge to the victim’s family, Miller said.

Title sponsor is the Ballengee Foundation with Waynette Ballengee serving as event chair.

In 2012 at the Gingerbread House: 727 children received forensic interviews, multidisciplinary investigations and family advocacy services, averaging 61 forensic interviews per month.

246 child victims and their non-offending caregivers received counseling services.

As part of prevention efforts, more than 6,905 children and adults participated in educational outreach sessions.

Miller said all services were offered free of charge to child victims of abuse and their families.

She said the team at the Gingerbread House dedicates its efforts to reducing the trauma experienced by child victims of sexual and severe physical abuse. The Gingerbread House works with 13 agencies as part of a multidisciplinary team. They include police, sheriff’s and district attorney offices, Forensic Nurse Examiners of Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services.

“The Gingerbread House has the highest caseload out of the 16 children’s advocacy centers in Louisiana,” George Sewell, vice president of the Gingerbread House, said. “The bad news – there is child abuse in our area. The good news – it’s challenged aggressively. This luncheon is a great way for the public to learn about the work of the Gingerbread House.”

Pete Tucker is returning for the event from Austin for the second year in a row.

“Although I don’t live in Shreveport anymore, it is still home, it is still where I grew up,” Tucker said. “Charities such as the Gingerbread House don’t have large, local corporations to ask for donations, and there is a strong reliance on the people of the city for support. I guess for me there is nothing more important in a community than caring for children who are victims of abuse, and preventing others from becoming victims.

“As the former treasurer of the charity, I can tell you that it receives very little from city government, and this group maximizes every penny it gets from its donations,” Tucker said. “The administrative overhead is a very low percentage of expenses so that the maximum amount of each dollar goes to the children.”

Tucker said people need to realize that “when you stop child abuse, you stop crime, you make a healthier society, and you prevent future abuse from happening.”

Floral centerpieces will incorporate work by the children of the Gingerbread House and they have created canvas masterpieces that will be unveiled and auctioned off at the event.

Raffle tickets for a $1,000 shopping spree at Lee Michaels will be sold for $20 each. Other sponsors are Broadmoor Florist, Buttercups Cupcakes, The Forum and Paragon Press.

The financial goal for the event is $90,000. Expected attendance is 450. Last year’s event, featuring Elizabeth Smart, sold out. This will be the 11th annual fundraiser.

Tickets are $125 per person. Table sponsorships start at $1,500 for a table for 10. To purchase tickets, contact the Gingerbread House at 674-2900. Go to www.gingerbreadhousecac.org.