DA’s Office Raises Over $25,000 for Child Advocacy Center

The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office raised over $25,000 on behalf of the nascent Children’s Advocacy Center at a holiday fundraiser in December. The largest portion of that total given by a single donor was a gift from Atlanta Falcon “Big Play” Ray Buchanan who donated $5,000 to the event. Mr. Buchanan presented the check

to District Attorney Paul Howard at the Office’s holiday gala held at the historic Atlanta Woman’s Club on Peachtree Street. The party included a silent auction featuring items such as weekend hotel getaways, jewelry, theatre tickets, a wine-tasting package, a handmade quilt, and even a Falcons jersey signed by Ray Buchanan. Guests were also treated to an elegant buffet, musical performances, and dancing. “We were so pleased to have Ray associated with our efforts to establish a state-of-the-art advocacy center in our community,” says Mr. Howard. “His generous donation—along with all of the other money raised by the District Attorney’s Office—will go a long way toward fulfilling this urgent need and reaching this worthwhile goal.” Adding to that, the Atlanta Falcons organization has pledged to match Mr. Buchanan’s gift 2-to-1, bringing the total raised by the event to over $25,000.

	For his part, the NFL veteran was happy to help. “It’s a privilege to contribute to what will be the first comprehensive advocacy center in Georgia serving children who are victims of both physical and sexual abuse and neglect,” says Mr. Buchanan, who has established the “Big Play Ray of Hope” charitable foundation.
“Working with the Fulton Child Advocacy Center provides a great opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of abused children—a goal my foundation is committed to as well.”

Ray (Number 34) has been a star with the Atlanta Falcons organization since joining the team in 1997. Now in his 11th year with the NFL, he has played in both an NFC and AFC Championship game and stands tied for fourth-place in team history with 29 successful interceptions. In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Mr. Buchanan and his wife Sheree established their “Big Play Ray of Hope Foundation” to help eradicate child abuse and neglect and the sexual exploitation of minors.

The District Attorney’s Office and the Board of Directors of the Child Advocacy Center extend their thanks to all of the individuals and businesses that donated items to the silent auction, as well as to those who provided in-kind donations to the event; including Atlanta Wholesale Wine, The Best Jewelry Manufacturing Co, Inc., Chef Anthony’s Catering, Brown & Bass/Inca Spirits, DJ Jason, Food 101, Mr. Ron Fuller, and Fulton County Gourmet Services.

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Fulton County will be a child-focused, facility-based program in which representatives from many disciplines—law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical, and victim advocacy—work together, conducting joint forensic interviews
and making team decisions about the investigation, treatment, management, and prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse cases. The CAC Planning Office is currently engaged in a campaign to raise the $15 million necessary to build a state-of-the-art facility on land donated by Fulton County. For more information on the CAC, visit www.fultoncountycac.org.