I just republished the tribute diary for victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse
“No One Spoke Up for Us": For The Children Who Had No Voice and For those finally finding Theirs
with the following note:
Editor's Note: Because we must always remember and never forget. Today there are children being abused. Today we can save a life. If you see something, say something. Children cannot protect themselves, it is our duty to keep them safe. Today, any donation made to http://tree-climbers.org/... will be matched 100% with all donations going to survivor scholarships. Thanks, Roxine
January 26, 2012, Tree Climbers was born. It was out of this diary that so many banded together to support each other, fellow survivors, fellow victims, friends, family.
The Paterno family has done an excellent job using their name to raise awareness of child sexual abuse. Jay Paterno and Sue Paterno attended the annual breakfast to raise awareness of child abuse hosted by the PA Family Support Alliance
And Scott Paterno consistently utilizes Twitter to promote organizations who provide resources to victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse:
(Although this is dated yesterday, he has consistently done this for the past several months - a quick review of his Twitter history will show this)
He also made a sizeable donation to Tree Climbers last night and Re-tweeted the following:
To date we have recieved over 100 emails from survivors requesting information about our scholarships. Soon, we will begin accepting applications and will be awarding the first (of many!) scholarships.
You can be a part of that.
For the next 24 hours, any and all donations made to Survivor Scholarships will be matched 100%. And 100% of all of the monies raised and matched will go to the initial scholarships awarded.
Why we promote education
Personally, for me, I have found that each little milestone I have achieved has given me back some of the worth and value that was stolen from me at such a young age. If you're not familiar with my history of child sexual abuse, the following links will provide some insight:
Tree Climbers: I was 5 when the grooming began
Tree Climbers: I'm Suffocating
Tree Climbers: Worth and Value
Tree Climbers: I was a kid - you were a man
Excerpt from "I'm Suffocating":
My heart rate slows, my pace slows, and I begin to notice the shadows on the ground where my eyes are fixated. They are of trees, leaves of trees to be exact. And in those shadows I see little children's faces. I see them laughing and smiling because they are up in the tree and they are safe from the horrors of the ground. They are safe because we built this tree for them. We gave them a place of refuge. A place to play and laugh and swing and be happy. A place void of betrayals and hatred and anger and sorrow. And my breathing slows, and a peace slowly returns.
The wind is blowing slightly and the shadows are dancing and my spirit is lifting. Raising my eyes, I see two Canadian Geese walking across the grass. And I reflect back to a few years ago when a pair had a nest just outside of my husband's office door. I remember every time we would approach the sliding glass door how the male would spread his wings and quickly approach us, barking at us, flapping his wings,- fiercely protecting his newborn young. And I realize I am crying. Wishing I had had that same fierce protection from my father.
Through my education, I have learned that this was not my fault. I have learned the statistics of child sexual abuse. Through my A.A., B.S. and now MBA
(just finished on Monday-wooooohoooo! mini-celebration!) I have regained some of my self-worth. I have learned that it's okay, that I'm not alone, that it wasn't my fault!
I have survived and thrived! And that is what Tree Climbers wants to give to other survivors. The opportunity to THRIVE!
So please, consider giving a donation today. As previously mentioned, your $1 becomes $2 automatically. And EVERY DOLLAR DONATED (AND MATCHED) WILL GO TOWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Roxine