More Finalists
November 22, 2008
Love Our Children USA
Every year, more than three million children are victims of violence and almost 1.8 million are abducted.
Love Our Children USA is committed to breaking the cycle of violence against children. They have become the "go-to" prevention organization for violence and neglect against children in the United States. The group educates the public about the issue, giving kids a chance to be safe, loved and nurtured – working to stop violence before it starts. They promote positive changes in parenting and family attitudes and behaviors, using prevention and education strategies. Love Our Children USA empowers and supports kids and families through information, resources and advocacy, working with law enforcement and communities to eliminate behaviors that keep kids from reaching their potential. They even helped victims of Hurricane Katrina by sending clothing, books and toys to children and gave support to overwhelmed parents.
Winning Regional Essay
"Ross Ellis, Founder and CEO of Love Our Children USA, has been a close friend for a number of years. As part of her 'inner circle,' I have been privy to this nonprofit's unwavering commitment and persistent efforts in what sometimes seems like an uphill battle in its mission to break the cycle of violence and neglect against children.""Despite all the frustrations, disappointments and obstacles, Love Our Children USA, in its short eight-year history, has prevailed and, in my opinion, can boast of some pretty awesome accomplishments. I will never forget Love Our Children USA's immediate response to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy: the establishment of the Kids of Katrina Fund to offer financial assistance to the children affected by the disaster. It has provided clothing, books and toys to thousands of children and given parenting education and support to their overwhelmed parents."
"Not only has this charity come to the aid of those at-risk in high-profile national crises but, even more importantly in keeping with its mission, it has been there for kids and families on a one-to-one basis. I have heard how it saved four troubled teenage girls from suicide through hours of email and phone contact, rescued a teen from an Internet pedophile and helped several kids resolve bullying problems."
"Love Our Children USA also helped a young grandmother from Baton Rouge. Her daughter was murdered by her boyfriend who also shot her three-year-old autistic son in the head before killing himself. The grandmother traveled to Georgia to bring the child and his six-month-old sister to Louisiana to live with her. Love Our Children USA provided her with financial resources, essential referrals and parenting information to enable them to live as a healthy family."
"And then there was the pregnant 15-year-old from Boston. Alone and scared, with no family and nowhere to turn, she located Love Our Children USA's website and telephoned its headquarters in New York. Through extensive phone conversations with the staff, she received residential and employment resources as well as guidance in enrolling in a program that taught her parenting and child development skills so she could be a good mom. She has since earned her GED and is now taking college courses to become a child development specialist."
"Given such heart-warming success stories, is it any wonder that I am very proud and honored to nominate Love Our Children USA for ReZoom's 'A Better World' award?"
If They Won the $100,000 National Award ...
"So many charities do great work. Most provide direct services to those in need. Many causes tug at people's heartstrings generating large donations.
"Love Our Children USA also does great work but in a very different way. We do not provide direct services to those in need … in that we do not treat, heal or cure diseases.
"Our cause does not tug at heartstrings because, unfortunately, our issue is one that many cannot fathom …after all, who would harm children?
"We work aggressively to educate the public, parents and children and work with families, law enforcement and communities. As the go-to prevention organization for all forms of violence and neglect in the United States, we are the voice for over 3 million children who are victims of violence each year, for the almost 1.8 million children who are abducted each year, for the almost 600,000 kids in foster care, and for the 1 out of 7 kids and teens who are approached online by predators every single day.… giving them a chance to be safe, loved and nurtured. Children rely on our Youth For Youth Partnership as a safe haven. Families, schools, and communities count on Love Our Children USA for our extensive information, resources and help.
"With donors focused on disasters which most assuredly deserve generous donor dollars, and children from other countries needing our attention and with very good cause, America's children are being forgotten. Violence and neglect against children in our country have reached epidemic proportions and financial support is greatly needed in order for us to continue our important work.
Love Our Children USA Founder and Chief Executive Office Ross Ellis with All My Children Star Cameron Mathison, Teddy Ruxpin and New York City school children celebrating National Love Our Children Day, an initiative of Love Our Children USA.
"The financial growth of Love Our Children USA is especially important as we move forward with plans to build a children's center.
"Love Our Children USA's mission is not only to break the cycle of violence and neglect against children, but to eliminate behaviors that keep children from reaching their potential. Love Our Children USA is about PREVENTION. We work to stop violence against children BEFORE it starts.
"Some of our achievements include saving four teens from suicide, getting several kids and their families into counseling, rescuing a teen from an Internet pedophile, helping several kids resolve bullying problems and providing thousands of parents with information and resources. Through our various programs and extensive web site, we have so far, reached over 4 million people. Imagine how many more children and families Love Our Children USA can help with a generous monetary award from Rezoom.com!
"We have been asked: how will Love Our Children USA use the $100,000 award if we are selected as the national winner?
"Our response: If we cannot keep our children safe now, what will our world be like in 10 or 20 years?"
More Quotes from the Charity
"To hear that someone actually wants to help is uplifting. I have been so
heart broken, crying for my children. I have felt like I have had no voice."
- L.E., California
"Thank you for your wonderful organization. I really appreciate it. You are doing such a generous thing for our children."
- A.V., Massachusetts
"We have to realize, in very big terms, the future of our country depends on how we raise our children. Thank you for all the work you do."
- A.A., Nevada
"Today I have just found out about this wonderful information on 'The View' about child abuse. I went to your site and was very excited to see someone really trying to raise awareness. I am very thankful of all the things you do to help our children."
- M.M., California
"Thank you so much for your help & your concern. Out of all the people and organizations that I've contacted in the past year and a half, you are by far the most caring and helpful."
- M.G., Virginia