Good News from a Bad Economy

YOU MAY NOT KNOW that non-profits are the 5th largest industry in Arizona!

As we all adjust to the new economic reality, we non-profit groups at "the end of the food chain" wait as a thirsty crop for welcome raindrops to trickle down . If you plan to donate in 2010, these first weeks are the time to let your contribution be known. Pledges count! Don't hesitate to call me 602-710-1903.

AND there is reason to hope for a brighter future!!! Defenders received an increase in a type of donations during 2010 that are not found in the usual ledger "Income" column. Rather, they are found in a line item called

In-Kind Donations.
With the 2009 income of Defenders of Children and others at about one-half of historical income figures, In-kind contributions are the important link that helps keep our charitable services to abused kids and their families flowing.

How important are In-Kind Donations?
An in-kind donation is a gift of professional talent that would otherwise cost hard dollars to a charity agency or the needy family. For this agency, these donations have always been key to our work, but during the 2009 economic downturn, our in-kind donations doubled. This enables services to carry on!

Lawyer jokes unwelcome here!

Any business executive recognizes the significance of the following statement: over the years, our child advocacy work has received in-kind donations totaling some $1.7 million. Attorneys lead our list of in-kind donors, followed by mental health professionals and social workers, obtained when our client-families cannot afford to pay due to low income or the depletion of discretionary funds long ago in seeking child safety, health or education. The high-conflict, highly charged issues we face often require the children or kinship to have direct representation by lawyers, here provided under the guidance of our well-respected staff attorney David Lujan. Other practitioners provide their specialties. All attend our Volunteer Attorney Trainings and/or our social service Child Advocacy Workshops provided to staff and the volunteers of our CareKids program.

Our Heroes
YOU, our benefactors and supporters are our heroes, especially The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, S R P Employee Boosters, The AZ Foundation for Legal Services & Education/IOLTA, The AZ Bar Association, Lisa & Alfredo Molina, The Haskell Family, Las Palomas, Branches of The Olive Tree, The Joshua Fund, and those new to us this year: The Creative Women of Pinnacle Peak and the AZ Women’s Partnership.

Unsung Heroes
We acknowledge the Board members that have fought along the staff and me to keep our critical services alive. A list of our Board members is found on this website. Noted here is special thanks to longtime active members Chair Betty H. McRae, treasurers Beth Meyer and Gary Bolno, and former vice chair Shelley Adams; and longtime volunteers Tara Bickford Bailey, Joanne McDonald (both Board members now) and Carol Jacobson and Dr. Chris Monaco. Both Board member Paige Frenkel and Fran Reich became quite active in our children’s issues this year. Special thanks to Board members Vanessa Van Wyk and Dr. Claire Bowey for their motivational good ideas! We appreciate you all!

Sung-Outloud Heroines!
Special attention here goes to our now-retired case manager, Ginger Wooden, brave and beautiful, whose 3 1/4 year service was interrupted this fall by a severe medical condition that requires her to advocate for herself. All of the kids and families for whom she advocated wish her well, and hope she can continue her work one day. Too, we are grateful to Caroline White who founded and still heads our Mohave County Program, now in the role of consultant. And tireless vanguard for children, Flora Jessop continues to receive our admiration and respect.

These heroes, sung and unsung, join me in recognizing that children in our midst who are currently being abused are an “essential need,” especially in an environment when financial frustrations can increase stress that lead to more episodes of violence toward our most vulnerable family members—children, repeatedly abused. It is on them that some healing raindrops must fall.

Sincerely, Donnalee Sarda, MC, LPC (licensed professional counselor), Executive Director Defenders of Children steps in upon request of protective family members, court officials or child welfare workers.  Defenders will not accept a case if authorities have not yet been contacted for intervention, and proper channels for assistance have not been sought.  We believe our law enforcement and child protection personnel are trained to assess allegations of abuse and equipped to provide protection when needed.  They are the appropriate first responders when allegations of child abuse arise.

However, if concerned adults have encountered a brick wall because they have already tried available avenues of intervention and there is still credible evidence that the child remains in a high-risk situation, Defenders will review the circumstances to determine whether to step in with its own resources.