La Visionaria Guild
of Children's Hospital Central California
Child Abuse Prevention
The Guilds Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Center
Children's Hospital Central California
Why the Color Blue? – A Personal Story
The Blue Ribbon Campaign began in Virginia, 1989 when grandmother, Bonnie W. Finney, tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van “to make people wonder.” The story she told to curious community members was a tragic story about the abuse of her grandchildren, which ultimately led to the brutal death of her grandson, 3 year old Michael.
“It had been so long since I stayed by my grandson’s side in the hospital. Of course, I knew something was wrong as I sat there, I saw fear on his face, the bruises on his body, and the healing cigarette burns on his hands. His doctor did not believe my daughter’s story … ‘he fell in slippery water in the bathtub.’
“After the ordeal at the hospital, my grandson was placed into foster care for three weeks. He cried when they came to take him back to his mother … I ached for this dilemma, but I was not physically able to care for him.
“I never saw him again. My 16-month old granddaughter was hospitalized after being beaten severely … Her leg broken in four places and her hand burned from the tip of her little fingers to her wrist. It was only then that the search was on for my grandson. We learned that he had been killed, wrapped in a sheet, stuffed in a toolbox and dumped into the dismal swamp three months earlier.
“My grandchildren had suffered and battled so much throughout their young lives that it sickened me. My life was turned into physical and mental chaos. My efforts to understand became a plea to stop abusing children. I tied a blue ribbon on my van antenna to make people wonder. Why blue? I intend never to forget the battered, bruised bodies of my grandchildren. Blue serves as a constant reminder to me to fight for protection for our children.”
The Guilds Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Endowment – $5 Million
In the United States, more than 3 million children are reported abused or neglected every year. In Children’s Hospital 10 county service area, 54,000 kids were referred to Child Protection Services from 2007 to 2008 – 11,396 of these were confirmed as abuse.
At Children’s Hospital, up to 5% of our inpatient population come through our doors because of suspected abuse or neglect. A majority of these kids are under the age of 5. About 1/3 of our trauma cases under the age of one are non-accidental injuries.
In 2007 the Guilds saw a need and pledged $1 Million to establish The Guilds Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Endowment at Children's Hospital. In 2009 the Guilds realized more was need to fully fund this endowment and pledge an additional $4 Million.
“We must protect our most precious gift of all – our children.”
You are invited to join the Guilds of Children’s Hospital as we wear our blue ribbons in memory of 3 year old Michael and all other innocent children who are abused. In Bonnie’s words, "We must protect our most precious gift of all...our children. Please wear a blue ribbon...give one to your friends...tell them what it means...you may save a child's life!"
The story of Bonnie Finney demonstrates the effect that just one concerned citizen can have on raising public awareness of child abuse and in promoting prevention. Can you imagine if we all wore the blue ribbon during the month of April or everyday, and you answered their question of “Why a blue ribbon?”
Help give a voice to the voiceless – email Shannon with your address and we’ll mail you a blue ribbon pin - SFast@ChildrensCentralCal.
Children's Hospital Central California
Why the Color Blue? – A Personal Story
The Blue Ribbon Campaign began in Virginia, 1989 when grandmother, Bonnie W. Finney, tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van “to make people wonder.” The story she told to curious community members was a tragic story about the abuse of her grandchildren, which ultimately led to the brutal death of her grandson, 3 year old Michael.
“It had been so long since I stayed by my grandson’s side in the hospital. Of course, I knew something was wrong as I sat there, I saw fear on his face, the bruises on his body, and the healing cigarette burns on his hands. His doctor did not believe my daughter’s story … ‘he fell in slippery water in the bathtub.’
“After the ordeal at the hospital, my grandson was placed into foster care for three weeks. He cried when they came to take him back to his mother … I ached for this dilemma, but I was not physically able to care for him.
“I never saw him again. My 16-month old granddaughter was hospitalized after being beaten severely … Her leg broken in four places and her hand burned from the tip of her little fingers to her wrist. It was only then that the search was on for my grandson. We learned that he had been killed, wrapped in a sheet, stuffed in a toolbox and dumped into the dismal swamp three months earlier.
“My grandchildren had suffered and battled so much throughout their young lives that it sickened me. My life was turned into physical and mental chaos. My efforts to understand became a plea to stop abusing children. I tied a blue ribbon on my van antenna to make people wonder. Why blue? I intend never to forget the battered, bruised bodies of my grandchildren. Blue serves as a constant reminder to me to fight for protection for our children.”
The Guilds Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Endowment – $5 Million
In the United States, more than 3 million children are reported abused or neglected every year. In Children’s Hospital 10 county service area, 54,000 kids were referred to Child Protection Services from 2007 to 2008 – 11,396 of these were confirmed as abuse.
At Children’s Hospital, up to 5% of our inpatient population come through our doors because of suspected abuse or neglect. A majority of these kids are under the age of 5. About 1/3 of our trauma cases under the age of one are non-accidental injuries.
In 2007 the Guilds saw a need and pledged $1 Million to establish The Guilds Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Endowment at Children's Hospital. In 2009 the Guilds realized more was need to fully fund this endowment and pledge an additional $4 Million.
“We must protect our most precious gift of all – our children.”
You are invited to join the Guilds of Children’s Hospital as we wear our blue ribbons in memory of 3 year old Michael and all other innocent children who are abused. In Bonnie’s words, "We must protect our most precious gift of all...our children. Please wear a blue ribbon...give one to your friends...tell them what it means...you may save a child's life!"
The story of Bonnie Finney demonstrates the effect that just one concerned citizen can have on raising public awareness of child abuse and in promoting prevention. Can you imagine if we all wore the blue ribbon during the month of April or everyday, and you answered their question of “Why a blue ribbon?”
Help give a voice to the voiceless – email Shannon with your address and we’ll mail you a blue ribbon pin - SFast@ChildrensCentralCal.
