Charities

Cassidy's Place, Cody House and The Association to Benefit Children

The Association to Benefit Children

419 East 86th Street
New York, NY 10028
212-831-1322
212-426-9488 fax

Named for the Gifford's daughter, Cassidy's Place is the home of Association to Benefit Children's (ABC) national children's advocacy. Its programs include comprehensive family support services, a day care center for homeless children whose parents are in ABC's employment program Baked in the Hood, a unique mentoring program which pairs homeless children with adults from all walks of life and a large therapeutic day nursery. The Cassidy's Place day nursery serves over one hundred and twenty poor children who suffer from serious disabling conditions including HIV and AIDS.

ABC's mission is to prevent the unnecessary and expensive institutionalization of children. To that end, the program at Cassidy's Place enables children to live at home, to play with other children in school and to enjoy childhood while they receive necessary therapies in a warm and nurturing setting. Family support groups and individual counseling are integral to Cassidy's Place. Cassidy's Place provides a safe haven for all family members who are struggling with the debilitating effects of poverty and illness. The goal is to provide a full, stimulating, safe environment for children to grow, develop and learn while at the same time easing the burden on vulnerable families. The success of its design and its commitment to children and their families serves as a model for effective and early intervention.

Cody House provides a transitional home, respite care, foster care and adoption services for infants and children who have severe disabilities and serious medical problems. The Cody House staff works quickly to find and train a nurturing family to care for each child. Well over 500 children with debilitating medical conditions who, at one time would have been left to languish in hospitals, now live with loving families. Family support teams, medical, psychiatric and educational programs, community education and dedicated volunteers provide the ongoing assistance that biological and foster families need to love these babies back to life. Cody House also oversees the placement of foster children in the homes of their relatives. Recognizing that absorbing a child into an existing family unit has ramifications for each family member including the child's biological parents, families are given comprehensive home study, through the supervision of parental visits, medical, educational and therapeutic services to the establishment of a permanent placement, Cody House works quickly to find the best home for each child.

Dear Lambies,

How I wish each and every one of you could have been with me on my recent trip to Phoenix, Arizona on behalf of Childhelp USA.

Childhelp USA Director of Special Events Dionne Archer; Childhelp Co-founder Sara O'Meara; Kathie Lee, Childhelp Co-founder Yvonne Fedderson

Even though I have been involved with this amazing organization for four years it was not until I physically visited their extraordinary facility that I truly understood how unique, how revolutionary their vision is.

First, a few facts: every 10 seconds a child is reported abused in our nation. Three million cases of abuse are reported a year and every day 3 children die because of abuse. Just since I sat down to write to you some 10 children have had their childhoods stolen from them.

It is our national shame that we sit by with our curtains drawn and refuse to recognize the truth and do something about it.

One of the medical examination rooms at Childhelp Children's Center of Arizona. The artwork was donated by Fox Animation Studios.

The Childhelp USA facility in Phoenix is a revelation. Think about it: The person who abuses a child often tells them "if you tell anyone about this, they’re going to take you to jail." And what do we do as a society when we (finally) respond to the accusation of abuse? We take the child to the police station and interrogate them in the same room as rapists and murderers! Then we send them to a sterile, cold, hospital and examine them and then we throw them into the child protective services system, which is often a nightmare in itself. The whole process usually takes 3 weeks — three weeks of more trauma and pain for a child that has already been hideously abused.

This doesn’t happen in Phoenix! And it’s my sincere belief it doesn’t have to happen anywhere in our country!

When a child comes to Childhelp USA in Phoenix they immediately enter a child-friendly world of kindness, love and understanding. The gardens are gorgeous, the playroom is magical, the interrogation room is warm and inviting, the doctors are loving and tender, the detectives are plain-clothed and non-threatening, and the counselors and lawyers are trained, sensitive and totally devoted to their welfare…ALL UNDER ONE ROOF & THE RESULT IS THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKES THREE HOURS.

The playroom of the Childhelp Children's Center of Arizona features a TV/VCR in a life/like 14-foot tree. Farmyard mural donated by the artists of Fox Animation Studios.

Prosecutions rise significantly because the child feels safe to share their experience.

I truly have never seen anything so smart and so loving at the same time. Something happened to me while I visited the facility with my old friend, Chuck Bolte, who now is the Chief Operating Officer of Childhelp USA.

I felt the same thing I felt when I held my first AIDS baby back in 1990 and I knew I couldn’t rest until something changed for these children.

This is my new purpose and I don’t know where it’s going to lead me but I do know this: God loves these children even more than we do and He will provide a way to help us to help them.

Child abuse crosses all ethnic, economic, religious, and political boundaries. It is the scourge and great shame of our nation and each day we remain silent we become guilty ourselves of negligence.

I know this sounds severe, but if you could have seen what I saw and heard what I heard, I know you would understand the conviction I feel in my own heart…

One of the medical examination rooms at Childhelp Children's Center of Arizona. The artwork was donated by Fox Animation Studios.

Kathie Lee

NEWS RELEASE

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, WARIS DIRIE RECEIVE HUMANITARIAN AWARDS AT APRIL 12 CHILDHELP USA FASHION SHOW

GIFFORD DONATES $50,000 TO HELP ARIZONA’S ABUSED CHILDREN

PHOENIX (April 18, 2001)–An audience of 560 gathered Thursday, April 12 to honor two internationally renowned humanitarians–Kathie Lee Gifford and Waris Dirie–for their efforts to end the suffering of children. The tribute took place at the Childhelp USA Spring Fashion Show, held at the Phoenician Resort and Golf Club, 6000 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale. The event was sponsored by Nordstrom. The fund-raiser netted $85,000, which will benefit Childhelp’s Merv Griffin Village of Arizona, a residential treatment facility for severely abused children to be built near Wickenburg.

(L-R) Childhelp's Heart of Compassion Awardee Kathie Lee Gifford and international fashion model and Childhelp Guardian Angel Awardee Waris Dirie.

Singer, actress and television personality Kathie Lee Gifford received Childhelp’s Hearts of Compassion Award for her numerous efforts that have helped children. International fashion model Waris Dirie (pronounced WAH-riss DEER-ee) was honored with Childhelp’s Guardian Angel Award. Both women gave heart-felt acceptance speeches, which enthralled the audience.

KNXV TV 15 News Anchor Robin Sewell served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. She was joined onstage by Arizona Secretary of State Betsey Bayless and Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano, who spoke about child abuse in Arizona. The event was sponsored by the Greater Phoenix Chapter of Childhelp USA. Louise Marques was the event chair.

Gifford has actively supported Childhelp USA for many years, serving as a Celebrity Ambassador for the Scottsdale-based national charity. Royalties from her book "Christmas with Kathie Lee" were donated to Childhelp USA, as are a portion of the proceeds from her popular Natural Advantage a line of skin care products. She also donated $50,000 to the April 12^th event’s $85,000 net proceeds, and challenged members of the local community to match her gift.

Gifford devotes much of her time to Variety Club International’s "The Children’s Charity" and the Association to Benefit Children, which spawned the Cody Foundation. The Association supports Cody House and Cassidy’s Place, which provide shelter and care to

HIV-positive and crack-addicted children. Gifford has also lobbied for the eradication of inhumane working conditions of garment workers throughout the world, and has been appointed to the Apparel Industry Partnership White House Task Force.

In addition to her career as a fashion model, African-born Waris Dirie is also a United Nations Population Fund Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which maims an estimated two million girls annually. Many die from complications resulting from the procedure, or suffer a lifetime of physical and mental anguish. Dirie’s book "Desert Flower" chronicles her own experience with FGM and her amazing flight, on foot, from the deserts of Somalia to the runways of the world’s top fashion centers.

Approximately 50 people, including the event’s major sponsors and their guests, also enjoyed a Wednesday evening, April 11 private reception attended by honorees Gifford and Dirie. The VIP party was held in the Paradise Valley home of Childhelp Co-founders Yvonne Fedderson and Sara O’Meara, and Sara’s husband Dr. Bob Sigholtz.

Founded in 1959 by Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Childhelp USA is one of the largest and oldest national nonprofit organizations dedicated to the treatment, prevention and research of child abuse and neglect.

The Millenium Chorus - The Greatest Story Ever Sung

	The Greatest Story Ever Sung available now at Amazon.com

Kathie Lee recently participated in a project called The Millenium Chorus.

The Millenium Chorus features a mix of world class artists, including Kathie Lee, performing new songs written by Graham Kendrick. The songs tell the story of the life of Jesus Christ.

A unique video was created blending film and video performance pieces. The proceeds from the sale of The Millenium Chorus CDs, cassettes, videos, and DVDs benefit relief organizations around the world such as Mercy Corps, World Relief, Red Cross, Salvation Army, and others.

Kathie Lee performs Once Upon a Universe. Other performers include Michael W. Smith, Jennifer Holliday, Michael Crawford, Bob Carlisle, Maire Brennan, Wintley Phipps, Shirley Caesar and Darwin Hobbs.

More information and online purchase of The Millenium Chorus CD, cassette, video, and DVD are available at http://www.ascentmusic.com.