For the past several years I have taken Max's picture at the Julie Valentine Memorial at the park near our home to commemorate Valentine's Day.
2009
2010
Max adores the playground nearby, but the memorial has always been special to me because it was sponsored by my agency in honor of a baby girl who was found abandoned and deceased in a field on the day before Valentine's Day. The police officer in charge of the investigation named the baby "Julie Valentine" and the memorial was created as a reminder of the effects of child abuse in our community, as well as providing a link to what we do to help prevent it and assist in healing.
2011
Today launches a new direction for our agency as we change our name to the "Julie Valentine Center" and open our doors with a new look. The landscaping and design outside our building was sponsored by Leadership Greenville and truly creates a more welcoming atmosphere. A special luncheon is being held with Ed Smart (the father of Elizabeth Smart) as a speaker. Max is also excited about the new logo! When he saw the invitation to the luncheon he proclaimed, "That's my heart! The one I take my picture on! At my park!" One child sharing his heart with another.
The Julie Valentine Center: Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Recovery.
Happy Valentine's Day to all children and those we hold close in our hearts!
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