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| Erin Phillips, Erin and Gary Lastinger, Dr. Sheridan-Matney and Vicente Wright |
Children’s Fund announced a $1,000,000 gift from the A.
Gary Anderson Family Foundation during the grand opening of the Children’s
Assessment Center of San Bernardino, hosted by the Children’s Fund President’s
Circle on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. The
donation will benefit the children who are treated at the Children’s Assessment
Center.
The Children’s Assessment Center treats children ranging
in age from 0-18 from every area of San Bernardino County who are suspected
victims of abuse and neglect. Nearly half of the children seen at the
Assessment Center are under the age of 5, signaling that a significant portion
of the population served by this Center are very young and often cannot speak
for themselves. Last year, the Center
treated more than 1,300 children from our own communities.
“This is the largest single gift in Children’s Fund’s history,”
states Erin Phillips, president & CEO of Children’s Fund. “This gift will support the Center's
continued emergency response to children, as well as provide a seed investment
for a Children's Fund endowment, which will help protect the future of the
Center.” The lobby of the Children’s
Assessment Center has been named the A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation Lobby
in response to their generosity.
Erin Lastinger, daughter of A. Gary Anderson, spoke about
the donation. “It is our mission and
passion to carry on my father’s legacy to support at-risk and abused
children. Gary and I promise we will do
everything in our power to protect and serve our kids in this community.” The
A. Gary Anderson Memorial Golf Classic, benefitting Children’s Fund, is in its 22nd
year and has raised more than $5.5 million to assist abused and neglected
children.
Dr. Clare Sheridan-Matney, the medical director of the
Children’s Assessment Center, was honored for her 30 years of dedication and
hard work, treating thousands of abused children throughout her career. “It’s hard to see the cruelty that people
inflict upon children,” states Sheridan-Matney.
“It is especially touching when you meet children who have managed to
retain innocence and humanity throughout it all.” Speaking about the new Center,
Sheridan-Matney continued, “We want the children to feel comfortable at the
Center. We want them to understand that
they do matter, that we are here for them, and they do have a voice.”
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| Erin & Gary Lastinger in the A. Gary Anderson Family Foundation Lobby |
