BERMUDA RUN – The Dragonfly House Children’s Advocacy Center held its 7th Annual Share the Love Fundraiser on Friday, Feb. 10 at WinMock at Kinderton.

The night’s theme was Stayin’ Alive with a throwback to the lights, music and décor of the 1970s. More than 220 guests attended to share in the mission providing hope and healing to child victims of abuse in Judicial District 22b (Davidson and Davie xounties).

Guests heard from Assistant District Attorney Rob Taylor, Executive Director Brandi Reagan and CareNet Child Therapist Tashia Rice, who all play an important part in carrying out the agency mission. Those in attendance enjoyed disco music, dancing, a “Hustle” dance contest, food, and live and chance auctions to help raise money for the agency.  Annual awards were presented to two outstanding individuals:

Sheri Woodyard received the award for Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Member of the Year. Woodyard is the DSS Attorney for Davidson County and has continuously devoted her time and energy towards ensuring children’s safety and well-being. The MDT serves to provide continual updates and actions with every child seen by The Dragonfly House to ensure no child slips through the cracks.

Rosemary Irion received the Volunteer of the Year award for her contributions in nursing with child medical exams at the agency.  Working by the side of Medical Director Dr. Amy Suttle, Irion ensures that each victim is as comfortable as possible during their exam.

Next year’s theme, “Olde Hollywood”, was revealed at the end of the evening so that guests could go ahead and get excited and plan ahead for next year’s signature event. While the agency’s Share the Love event has always been held in February over Valentine’s Day weekend, staff and board members have decided to move the event to the spring and will be held on April 21, 2018.

The agency announced plans for its Hand in Hand Capital Campaign to build a proper, functional child and community-serving children’s advocacy center on Valley Road in Mocksville. The facility will better enable The Dragonfly House to serve child victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and who are witness to violence with expanded therapy services and advocacy and medical programs. The center leases space on E. Lexington Road and has reached capacity with the space.

The agency’s mission is to reduce the devastating long-term effects that all forms of child abuse has on children, their families and society through immediate, coordinated, child focused services, education, and advocacy. Our vision is to reach every single child, age birth to 17, in the two county service area – to reach those who have not been abused so they become empowered to prevent it from happening to them and to reach those that have been abused so that we can begin the healing process for them.

The Dragonfly House is a Nationally Accredited Children’s Advocacy Center and is a Partner Agency of both Davie and Davidson County United Ways.