On November 15, 2008, we held a Fundraising/Awareness event called "Bowl-for-Child Safety". Although we had a small turnout, it was a fun event with great people & great prizes. We had a Winner & 2nd Place Winner, both of which received a prize pack full of great items. It was a fun way to support a GREAT CAUSE... Child Safety! For all who participated in this event to support our cause... Thank You!
We would like to thank Mr. Wesline, General Manager of Oak Ridge Bowling Center, for their donation during & for this event. In addition, a special thanks to the following Oak Ridge businessesfor donating giveaway items & prize pack items for our Event Winners...
Sonic Cedar Springs Christian Bookstore Merle Norman Cosmetics Ruby Tuesday PictureMe! Portrait Studios Peters Jewelers Staples Tinseltown Books A Million The Rush
On November 6, 2008, SpeakingOut held our 6th Workshop this year in Knoxville, TN. It was a GREAT Workshop with a wonderful group of people that made a point to not only attend our workshop, but actively participated as well. We had a Guest Speaker, Sharon Sitler, M.A. of Ebenezer Counseling. Sharon is a Licensed Professional Counselor & a National Certified Counselor that deals with Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse on a regular basis. She spoke to the "Affects of Child Sexual Abuse", short-term & long-term, which gave attendees an even greater understanding of the damage caused by this horrible crime committed against innocent children. We at SpeakingOut & Sharon from Ebenezer Counseling expressed that is our desire & goal for all Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse to truly Heal from the horrible violation they suffered & endured as a child. If you are a Survivor, know that THERE IS HOPE!
In Photo (From Left to Right)... Tim Masten, Director on SpeakingOut's Board, Susan Suafoa-Dinino, President/Founder of SpeakingOut, Pastor Rich & Susie Elsroad of Grace Lutheran Church, Jill Murphy of Christian Values Network & Sharon Sitler of Ebenezer Counseling
A Special Thanks to Pastor Rich Elseroad of Grace Lutheran Church for allowing us to bring our Workshop into his Church. That's what we need more of... Leaders in the Church & Community taking a stand against this crime. We would like to also thank Sharon Sitler of Ebenezer Counseling for agreeing to join us as our Guest Speaker, as well as Jill Murphy who briefly spoke about SpeakingOut's new relationship with Christian Values Network!
On October 23, 2008, I was able to attend Greeneville's Newcomer Club Meeting as their Speaker of the month. It was an absolute blessing to once again raise awareness on the horrific crime of Child Sexual Abuse and with such an interactive, helpful & active in their community group of people.
Thank you Susan O. & Lola K. (VP's of Newcomers Club) for affording SpeakingOut this wonderful opportunity to continue working toward our Mission! Susan Suafoa-Dinino (President/Founder)
On October 4-5, 2008, SpeakingOut held our 1st Annual Fall Clean Up for Charity fundraising event. With holding the yard sale all day Saturday & for a few hours on Sunday, we raised $575 for our cause. In addition, we were able to raise awareness by handing out information to shoppers. What a blessing!
A special thanks to each and every person in the community that donated items for us to sell! We could not have had such a successful event without the help of those generous individuals. In addition, I would like to thank both volunteers for their time & assistance in helping me run this event!
On September 28, 2008, we held another Workshop in which we had several participants. It is always a blessing and our pleasure to have the opportunity to meet with and interact with individuals who are concerned about the safety of children. Every time someone takes time out of their day to attend one of our Workshops, we as a group walk away with more people with the desire to step up and fight the fight against Child Sexual Abuse. That's what SpeakingOut is all about... everyone doing their part.
A special thanks to Knox County Public Library for providing a room for our non-profit organization to hold this important and very much needed Awareness & Prevention Workshop!
On September 6, 2008, SpeakingOut held our first CornHole Tournament. We teamed up with Fox Toyota in Clinton, TN to offer a day of food and fun for the whole family, while supporting our cause. It was a great event... everyone seemed to have lots of fun! We had several sponsors... Fox Toyota, Larry's Coney Island Cart, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union and Frontier Building & Development.
A special thanks to each of our Event Sponsors, to all those who volunteered their time to help us run this event & to every participant who joined us to Toss for a Great Cause!
On August 24, 2008, SpeakingOut held our 4th Workshop this year... 3 of which were open to the public. We had great attendance. The participants were wonderfully interactive & very diverse as far as occupations, knowledge on this crime, reasons for attending, etc... In addition, we had the pleasure of meeting others who are actively fighting this fight against Child Sexual Abuse. What a blessing!
A special thanks to GBC for allowing us to utilize a room for this very important mission... working to make America "A Safe Place" for children by educating adults in the community. After all, it is our responsibility as adults to protect innocent children... and all children are innocent when it comes to being sexually abused, regardless of their age. It is never the child's fault!
On July 27, 2008, SpeakingOut held another Workshop that was open to the public. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves..." (Proverbs 31:8) Our Workshops are one way in which we are doing this. Part of our Mission Statement says... Will measure Success by... if SpeakingOut helps 1 child, it will have been worth the effort..." To help that 1 child, there are many ways in which we can accomplish this. It may be that a child hears about SpeakingOut & is encouraged to tell on their abuser so that the abuse is stopped. It could mean that by educating a parent who talks to & warns their child about the dangers out there, that a child could be spared from something as horrific as Child Sexual Abuse. Or it could mean that we help a Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse learn how to deal with the horrible violation they endured as a child. There is healing in being able to talk about what happened to them. Most children never tell anyone they are being sexually abused, which means these children suffer alone. At SpeakingOut, we are working to change this. Our summary of this Workshop... SUCCESS!
Thank you GBC for, once again, opening up your doors & allowing us to utilize your facility!
On June 22, 2008, we held our 2nd Workshop. This event was open to the community as we are trying to reach as many people as we can in and around Knoxville. We had a small group, but what a Success! Participants opened up their hearts & minds, and were very attentive and interactive.
A special thanks to Grace Baptist Church for opening their doors and allowing us to utilize a room for this very much needed Awareness/ Prevention Event!
On June 4, 2008, Children’s Center of Knoxville, Inc. allowed us to set up an information table in their facility to hand out brochures to Parents who were unable to make the Workshop held on June 2nd. It was a great opportunity to Raise Awareness once again.
Thank you CCK! Your facility is truly an example we hope many other facilities will follow.
On June 2, 2008, our organization had the opportunity to hold our 1st Workshop called “A Safe Place”. There were 17 teachers and 2 parents of students at CCK in attendance. As we raised Awareness on Child Sexual Abuse, our goal was to equip teachers and parents with what they need to know… Signs/Symptoms of a Sexually Abused Child included.
A Special Thanks to Janet Kite, Executive Director of Children’s Center of Knoxville, Inc. for allowing us to come into her daycare/preschool and educate her staff & parents!
On May 18 & 25, 2008, our organization had the opportunity to utilize the Ministry Kiosk at Grace Baptist Church. We were able to hand out brochures to church attendees in order to Raise Awareness on Child Sexual Abuse… in an effort to aid in the Prevention of this horrific crime.
A Special Thanks to Stacey Bearden, Ministry Team Leader at Grace Baptist Church for providing us with this opportunity!
On November 15, 2008, we held a Fundraising/Awareness event called "Bowl-for-Child Safety". Although we had a small turnout, it was a fun event with great people & great prizes. We had a Winner & 2nd Place Winner, both of which received a prize pack full of great items. It was a fun way to support a GREAT CAUSE... Child Safety! For all who participated in this event to support our cause... Thank You! 
On November 6, 2008, SpeakingOut held our 6th Workshop this year in Knoxville, TN. It was a GREAT Workshop with a wonderful group of people that made a point to not only attend our workshop, but actively participated as well. We had a Guest Speaker, Sharon Sitler, M.A. of Ebenezer Counseling. Sharon is a Licensed Professional Counselor & a National Certified Counselor that deals with Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse on a regular basis. She spoke to the "Affects of Child Sexual Abuse", short-term & long-term, which gave attendees an even greater understanding of the damage caused by this horrible crime committed against innocent children. We at SpeakingOut & Sharon from Ebenezer Counseling expressed that is our desire & goal for all Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse to truly Heal from the horrible violation they suffered & endured as a child. If you are a Survivor, know that THERE IS HOPE!
On October 23, 2008, I was able to attend Greeneville's Newcomer Club Meeting as their Speaker of the month. It was an absolute blessing to once again raise awareness on the horrific crime of Child Sexual Abuse and with such an interactive, helpful & active in their community group of people. 
On October 4-5, 2008, SpeakingOut held our 1st Annual Fall Clean Up for Charity fundraising event. With holding the yard sale all day Saturday & for a few hours on Sunday, we raised $575 for our cause. In addition, we were able to raise awareness by handing out information to shoppers. What a blessing!
On September 28, 2008, we held another Workshop in which we had several participants. It is always a blessing and our pleasure to have the opportunity to meet with and interact with individuals who are concerned about the safety of children. Every time someone takes time out of their day to attend one of our Workshops, we as a group walk away with more people with the desire to step up and fight the fight against Child Sexual Abuse. That's what SpeakingOut is all about... everyone doing their part. 
On September 6, 2008, SpeakingOut held our first CornHole Tournament. We teamed up with Fox Toyota in Clinton, TN to offer a day of food and fun for the whole family, while supporting our cause. It was a great event... everyone seemed to have lots of fun! We had several sponsors... Fox Toyota, Larry's Coney Island Cart, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union and Frontier Building & Development. 
On August 24, 2008, SpeakingOut held our 4th Workshop this year... 3 of which were open to the public. We had great attendance. The participants were wonderfully interactive & very diverse as far as occupations, knowledge on this crime, reasons for attending, etc... In addition, we had the pleasure of meeting others who are actively fighting this fight against Child Sexual Abuse. What a blessing! 
On July 27, 2008, SpeakingOut held another Workshop that was open to the public. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves..." (Proverbs 31:8) Our Workshops are one way in which we are doing this. Part of our Mission Statement says... Will measure Success by... if SpeakingOut helps 1 child, it will have been worth the effort..." To help that 1 child, there are many ways in which we can accomplish this. It may be that a child hears about SpeakingOut & is encouraged to tell on their abuser so that the abuse is stopped. It could mean that by educating a parent who talks to & warns their child about the dangers out there, that a child could be spared from something as horrific as Child Sexual Abuse. Or it could mean that we help a Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse learn how to deal with the horrible violation they endured as a child. There is healing in being able to talk about what happened to them. Most children never tell anyone they are being sexually abused, which means these children suffer alone. At SpeakingOut, we are working to change this. Our summary of this Workshop... SUCCESS!
On June 22, 2008, we held our 2nd Workshop. This event was open to the community as we are trying to reach as many people as we can in and around Knoxville. We had a small group, but what a Success! Participants opened up their hearts & minds, and were very attentive and interactive. 
On June 4, 2008, Children’s Center of Knoxville, Inc. allowed us to set up an information table in their facility to hand out brochures to Parents who were unable to make the Workshop held on June 2nd. It was a great opportunity to Raise Awareness once again.
On June 2, 2008, our organization had the opportunity to hold our 1st Workshop called “A Safe Place”. There were 17 teachers and 2 parents of students at CCK in attendance. As we raised Awareness on Child Sexual Abuse, our goal was to equip teachers and parents with what they need to know… Signs/Symptoms of a Sexually Abused Child included.
On May 18 & 25, 2008, our organization had the opportunity to utilize the Ministry Kiosk at Grace Baptist Church. We were able to hand out brochures to church attendees in order to Raise Awareness on Child Sexual Abuse… in an effort to aid in the Prevention of this horrific crime. 
