Citgo Petroleum Corp. recently donated $10,000 to the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, a non-profit organization within the state’s attorney’s office.
The funds will be used to support the center’s annual “Men Who Cook” fundraiser Sept. 22 at Chicagoland Speedway.
County board members Herb Brooks, D-Joliet, and Mike Fricilone, R-Homer Glen, who sit on the CAC board of directors, accepted the check from Citgo at the June 21st county board meeting.
“I am proud of the good work done by the CAC. There is no service that is greater than helping children who are abused and neglected,” said Brooks in a news release.“We are grateful to Citgo for its contribution to the effort to help children in our county who have been abused. The good work of the CAC in providing counseling services to children is vital to our county,” Fricilone said in the release.
According to its website, CAC focuses on helping children who are sexually abused, severely physically abused or have witnessed a violent crime.
When authorities believe a child is being abused, the child is brought to the CAC by a caregiver or other safe adult, to tell their story to a trained interviewer.
A team that includes law enforcement, mental health, prosecution, child protective services, victim advocacy, and other professionals decide together how to help the child based on the interview.
The CAC also offers therapy and medical exams, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, case management, and other services, according to the website.
Last year, the center served more than 550 Will County children. It has helped 10,000 children since its inception in 1995, it stated.
Men Who Cook is a casual competition featuring area men who prepare and serve their favorite dishes for judging. The event also includes raffles and kids’ activities.
Tickets are $40 per person and $75 per couple. More information is at www.menwhocook.info.