Benefit helps abused children

More than 200 women attended the "Step into Spring" charity benefit hosted recently by the Buena Ventura chapter of Childhelp USA at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

The 100-member chapter is part of a national nonprofit that offers child abuse prevention, education and training programs and treatment to its victims. The chapter holds an annual fundraiser in spring.

This year, the event included a silent and live auction, a fashion show featuring Tadashi gowns, and vendors selling clothing, jewelry and handbags. The merchants donated 25 percent of their sales to the cause.

The event raised about $46,000 for the country's largest and oldest crusader against child abuse.

"I think that we did very good," Joanne Locascio, chapter president, said.

The elegant surroundings of Lake Sherwood-imposing mansions, manicured grounds and sweeping mountain vistas- stood in sharp contrast to the serious subject of helping children recover from sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Locascio told the group that four children in the U.S. die every day as a result of child abuse.

The Westlake Village resident joined the chapter nine years ago after a friend invited her to a benefit fashion show. Locascio had never heard of Childhelp and knew little about the extent and degree of child abuse in the U.S. What she learned moved her.

"I felt I needed to do something on my part to help out, join forces with (others in) the prevention of child abuse," Locascio said.

The organization won her respect and participation because 90 cents from every donated dollar goes into programs and services for children, she said.

Services provided by Childhelp include (800) 4-ACHILD, a national child abuse hotline staffed with crisis counselors, therapeutic foster family services, and stationary and mobile advocacy centers which are one-stop child-friendly facility for interviewing child abuse victims.

The nonprofit also provides residential treatment facilities around the country for severely abused and neglected children.

Marna DeVane, event chair and past president of the chapter, has visited the Village of Childhelp West, in Beaumont just outside of Palm Springs. The compound of cottages is home to nearly 100 severely abused children, who go to school on site or nearby.

DeVane said the therapeutic programs at the Village help the children learn the life skills they missed. For instance, in one program they care for abused animals, learn the proper way to treat a vulnerable charge and may see a connection to their situation, she said.