News Items & Press Releases : 

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

“Take Out Child Abuse”

by Janeane Moore

Carl Perkins Center

            In recognition of April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Exchange Club – Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse will strive to take out child abuse in West Tennessee.

            The local campaign includes many activities that center around the theme “Take Out Child Abuse.” Chinese take-out boxes are being distributed to social clubs at Freed-Hardeman University, and club members will compete to see which group can raise the most money for child abuse prevention.

           To help promote the child abuse prevention campaign, the Center is also selling tee shirts with the “Take Out Child Abuse” design on the front and back. The black, short-sleeve tee shirts are $15 each and sport a Chinese take-out menu with five protective factors that help in abuse prevention. The shirts can be purchased at the Center at 213 Cheyenne Drive.

            As always, blue ribbons will adorn downtown businesses to signify that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Blue lapel ribbons will also be available at the Center for anyone who wants to wear a blue ribbon throughout the month of April. The color blue is significant because, in 1989, Bonnie Finney of Norfolk, Va., tied a blue ribbon to her car antenna to memorialize the death of her only grandson. He died as a result of child abuse, and she chose the color blue to constantly remind her of the black and blue bruises that covered his battered body. That was the beginning of the National Blue Ribbon Campaign.

According to Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee, about 3 million reports involving the welfare of more than 5.5 million children were made to child protective services in 2004. As a result, about 872,000 children were determined to be victims of child abuse and/or neglect. The same year, approximately 1,500 children died from abuse and/or neglect.

            Child abuse leaves its mark on all members of society. Deaths due to child abuse cost the United States as much as $258 million each day or approximately $94 billion annually. Without the help of agencies like the Exchange Club – Carl Perkins Center, the majority of these costs would be felt by taxpayers.

            “Join us in the ‘Take Out Child Abuse’ campaign,” Pam Nash said. “You will be making a real difference in the life of a child.”

            To participate in CAP month in West Tennessee or for more information, contact the main office at 731-668-4000. l

Blue Suede Spectacular Event - What an Event!

February 23,2008  On Saturday, the Center hosted the Blue Suede Spectacular Event  at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.  Over 104 corporate and individual tables were sold.  The live auction this year featured trips to Cancun, New York City and Disney World.  The silent auction portion of the evening featured 310 items ranging from perfume gift baskets from Macy's, a Black & Decker power washer, and tickets to a Grizzly Game. The participation by local businesses and the communities involvement helped the Center raise more money than ever for the children and families of West Tennessee.

Mark your calendars, next year's date has been set

-The Blue Suede Dinner & Auction is February 28, 2009

Center Hosts Appreciation Luncheon for Area Media

And Announces the Entertainment for Blue Suede Spectacular Event

November 15, 2007  On Thursday, November 15, the Center hosted dozens of members in the West Tennessee media community to a luncheon at the newest restaurant in Jackson, THE FLATIRON GRILL, on Vann Drive.   The Center invited guests to the event as a way of saying thank you for all the media does to help the Center publicize the work it is doing in the community.  Guests dined on pork tenderloin or chicken pasta, and finished with a choice of carrot cake or pumpkin pie. All was provided by Frank Acuri and his outstanding team at FlatIron Grill of Jackson. 

During lunch it was announced - Twelve-Time GRAMMY Winner RICKY SKAGGS AND KENTUCKY THUNDER are the entertainment for the 2008 Blue Suede Spectacular Event. (Refer to major events on this website for pricing) The event will held on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in downtown Jackson.  A special presentation honoring Carl Perkins will also be part of the evenings festivities.

Also during lunch the group was treated to The Ballad of Carl Perkins written by Mark Crawford.  It has been ten years since Carl Perkins left his legacy with us. The ballad was performed by Stan Perkins and a group of entertainers.  There are plans to make the single available for purchase in the near future.

above .... James Ray Allison., Past Board President talks with Pam Nash, Executive Director of the Center.

above ... A mix of Media folks and Center Board Members.

above ... Kirk Newcom, Chairman of Public Relations for the Center addresses the crowd.

above ... Angela Warmuth, Doug Roth (front) and David Bratcher, all members of the 2007 Blue Suede Diner and Auction committee!

THANK-YOU WEST TENNESSEE

OVER $1 MILLION RAISED!

On Sunday, August 19, 2007, the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse hosted its 24th Annual Circles of Hope Telethon. The event was held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center and was broadcast live on WBBJ TV ABC 7 from 1:00-10:00 pm. Doris "Cousin Tuny" Freeman, along with other hosts Stan Perkins, Tom Britt, Benji Wood, Conrad Delaney, Jimmy Hoppers, and Blair Pancake, former Miss Tennessee, had great time with special guests, introducing entertainers, giving updates of amounts pledged and recognizing contributors.

The Circles of Hope Telethon this year raised over one million dollars for the children and families of West Tennessee.  The total comes in $300,000 over the amount that was raised during the 2006 Circles of Hope Telethon.

The telethon is the Center’s largest fundraiser, and all funds raised are used to provide programs and services to the children and families of West Tennessee. The Center now has locations in 11 counties and last year, served over 3,500 individuals in 15 West Tennessee counties. The Center offers a variety of services designed to meet each individual’s needs. Services offered by the Center include Crisis intervention and case management, individual and group counseling, child advocacy services, emergency services, parenting training and parenting groups, supervised visitation, relative caregiver program, a food pantry, clothes closet, and a toll free 24-hour hotline.

 To make a pledge, contact Julie McMahon at 4-A-CHILD (422-4453) or 1-800-249-7397.

Date Set for Circles of Hope Telethon

March 14, 2007  The 24th Annual Circles of Hope Telethon has been set for Sunday, August 19, 2007.  This year's event will once again be broadcast live from the Carl Perkins Civic Center from 1:00 - 10:00 p.m. airing  on WBBJ TV ABC 7.  The Circles of Hope Telethon is the Center's largest fundraising event each year and accounts for approximately one quarter of the organization's annual operating budget.

If you would like more information about volunteering for this event or to learn how you can make a donation, please contact Paul Alexander at (731) 668-4000.

Blue Suede Dinner & Auction Raises $147,000 for Center

February 24, 2007 was an unforgettable evening for all in attendance.  Guests were greeted with an elegantly decorated silent auction as they entered the Carl Perkins Civic Center for the 13th Annual Blue Suede Dinner & Auction.  Then they were treated to a scrumptious meal by Premier Place Catering.  Bids ran high as guests clamored for Florida vacations, LASIK surgery and even a car during the live auction.  Finally, the guests were taken back to the "good ol' days" for musical entertainment by the Van-Dells, the nation's leading rock and roll review act.

At the end of the evening, the Center had raised more than $147,000.  All proceeds raised will be used to fund the programs and services offered to children and families across West Tennessee.  Last year, the Center served more than 4,700 individuals break the cycle of child abuse.

Center Hosts Appreciation Luncheon for Area Media

August 1, 2006  On Wednesday, August 1, the Center hosted dozens of members in the West Tennessee media community to a luncheon at the Center's new home at 178 Airways Blvd. in Jackson.  The Center invited guests to the event as a way of saying thank you for all the media does to help the Center publicize the work it is doing in the community.  Guests dined on barbeque pork and brisket, with all the traditional sides, provided by Corky's Ribs and BBQ of Jackson. 

"This luncheon is our way of giving something back to those who give us so much.  We cannot thank our local media enough for all they do throughout the year to promote the Center, its programs and its events.  So we wanted to offer them a small token of our appreciation," said Central Board President Mike Ashley.

In addition to lunch and heartfelt thanks from the Center's board, staff and volunteers, the media community also learned of the upcoming Circles of Hope Telethon.  The telethon is the Center's largest annual fundraiser each year, generating approximately one quarter of the organization's operating budget.  This year's event will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center on Sunday, August 20th and will be broadcast live on WBBJ ABC 7 from 1:00-10:00 p.m.  Organizers said the telethon is more than just a fundraiser for the Center; it is also one of the Center's largest public relations initiatives throughout the year.  "The telethon is an important event for the Center.  It not only raises much-needed operating funds, but it also allows us to educate the community on the problem of child abuse and to let them know how the Center is working to break that cycle," said Telethon Chair Sherri Kilburn.

For more information about the 23rd Annual Circles of Hope Telethon, visit our Major Annual Events page or contact the Center at (731) 668-4000.

Center Transitions to New Location in Madison County

July13, 2006  After more than a decade at its College Street location in Jackson, Tennessee, the Center has moved into its new home at 178 Airways Blvd.  The College Street location was the first facility built by the organization in 1995.  Before that time, the Center had been housed in smaller facilities in downtown Jackson, but the College Street location was its first permanent home.

The Airways location will house the adult services offered in Madison County including Parent Training classes, Supervised Visitation and the Relative Caregiver Program.  The Center still maintains its two other Madison County locations - the Child Advocacy Center at 182 Lexington Avenue and the Central Office at 213 Cheyenne Drive.  Operating hours and phone numbers remain the same. 

For more information about the Center's locations throughout West Tennessee, refer to our Center Locations page.

Center Announces Restless Heart as Entertainment
for 2006 Blue Suede Dinner & Auction

January 12, 2006  The Center held a press conference and media reception to kick off its upcoming Blue Suede Dinner and Auction.  This year's event will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tennessee on Saturday, February 25, 2006 and will feature a silent auction with hundreds of items provided by local businesses and individuals, dinner provided by Rafferty's, special coffees and drinks provided by Starbucks and a live auction with larger ticket items such as trips and one of a kind memorabilia.  The evening will conclude with a live concert performance by the Grammy-nominated country music group, Restless Heart.  Angie Lowery, event chair, said, "Having seen Restless Heart perform in concert just last month, I can attest to what a great show we will have at the auction.  They are a very dynamic and talented group."  Tables of eight are available for the entire event ranging from $500-$5,000.  Individual seats are also available.  For more information on this event visit the Major Events section of our website.

Eleventh Annual Blue Suede Dinner & Auction
Becomes Record-Breaking Event

Saturday, February 26, 2005, was a record-breaking day for the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.  The Eleventh Annual Blue Suede Dinner and Auction, held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tennessee, was a phenomenal success - breaking all previous attendance and fundraising records for the event. 

The evening began with a silent auction that included hundreds of items donated by area businesses.  Attendees were then served a delicious meal by Rion Corley and his staff from Rafferty's.  After dinner, guests were treated to their favorite specialty coffee drink from Starbucks of Jackson.  The live auction followed and included some truly unique items such as Carl Perkins memorabilia and autographed guitars from both LeAnn Rimes and Wynonna Judd. 

The culmination of the evening was an intimate concert performance by Wynonna.  Judd, who rose to fame as part of the Grammy-winning duo, The Judds, wooed the audience with her vocal talent, light-hearted stories and memories of legendary Rock-a-Billy artist, Carl Perkins.  Judd spoke fondly of her time spent in Jackson and the influence that Perkins had on her musical career.  She interacted with the crowd and kept them laughing and singing throughout her performance.

This goal of this year's event was $200,000; and at the end of the evening, the Center had far exceeded its target.  More than $235,000 was raised at the Blue Suede Dinner and Auction.  All of the proceeds will be used to help support the programs and services provided by the Center.

The Center would like to thank the Blue Suede Dinner and Auction Committee, the board, staff and volunteers for all of their hard work and dedication to this event.  It was truly a labor of love.  Finally, we would like to thank all of the businesses and individuals who supported this event.  Without it, the Center could not continue to serve the children and families of West Tennessee.  Thank you for making a difference in the life of a child.

Center Announces Wynonna Judd As Entertainer
for Blue Suede Dinner & Auction

December 8, 2004   The Center announced today that Grammy award-winning country music artist, Wynonna Judd will headline this year's Blue Suede Dinner & Auction.  Judd is no stranger to the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center.  She and her mother, Naomi, were friends of the Center's co-founder and namesake, Carl Perkins.  Carl wrote the song "Let Me Tell You About Love", which was recorded by the Judds and became a Number One hit for them.  Fittingly, Let Me Tell You About Love is the theme of this year's event.

Brad Greer, Chairman of the Dinner and Auction, said, "Wynonna has always shown a real heart for children, and we are thrilled to have her as a part of this event."  Greer and other organizers expect today's announcement to cause a increase in the event's attendance. 

The Blue Suede Dinner and Auction will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in downtown Jackson on Saturday, February 26, 2005.  Tables are available, which include dinner, participation in the silent and live auctions and the concert.  General admission balcony seating is also available for the concert only.  For more information on the Blue Suede Dinner and Auction, please visit the Major Events section of our website or contact Beth Koffman at (731) 668-4000.

Center Receives Grant for Volunteer Workers

The Center's "One Child at a Time" AmeriCorps program has received funding from the Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service for the upcoming program year (beginning January 2005).  The Commission approved a $248,000 grant to fund the program for one year, and pending performance, the grant may be renewed an additional two years for a total of $744,000 in federal funds.

The AmeriCorps funding will allow the Center to recruit 20 full-time members, or the equivalent, to serve in each of the Center's fourteen locations.  The AmeriCorps member's primary function will be to support the program directors and social workers in their assigned county.  Because of  their presence in these facilities, more families will have the opportunity to be served.  They will serve in various capacities such as providing Parent Aide assistance; children's assistance; education, emergency and transportation assistance; managing donations; recruiting volunteers; and assisting with special events.  These are just a few of the areas where members will play a valuable role to the Center.

The preferred AmeriCorps member would be at least 21 years of age with a background in social work, fundraising, counseling or other related field.  However, the Center would like to speak with  anyone who has an interest in serving your community and helping to prevent child abuse.  Members must be willing to commit to one year of service.  During their service, full-time members may be able to receive a moderate living allowance, an education award (if the member is in school), health insurance and childcare assistance.

For more information, contact Brandy McAlister-Jones at (731) 668-4000 or bjones@carlperkinscenter.org