LIFE ON THE CIRCUIT : Child Abuse Prevention Awards Given as First of Several April Events

Banqueting

The Child Abuse Council of Orange County held an awards dinner Tuesday that drew more than 300 guests to the Irvine Hilton and Towers to honor local individuals and organizations involved with child abuse prevention. It was the first of several activities including a conference and a community awareness campaign slated for April, which is “National Child Abuse Prevention Month.”

At the Podium

After no-host cocktails, dinner and a video presentation of the grim facts of child abuse--”More than 2 million children suffer child abuse” annually, according to the narration--guests turned their attention to a parade at the podium.

First up was Connie Olsen, head of the Child Abuse Council, who spoke briefly about the need for more research, prevention and treatment for abused children.

The next 45 minutes of microphone time were used variously by emcee Merlin Olsen (a retired football player, FTD flower pitchman, television actor and Connie Olsen’s brother-in-law) and five award presenters--a different presenter for each honoree.

Speeches ranged from prosaic to comic.

Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley read a long list of the accomplishments of the local Junior League, while award recipient Cindy Brauer, who heads the League’s Child Advocate Newsletter, stood at his side.

Supervisor Roger R. Stanton presented an award to Ricky Levy, a fifth-grader at Santa Ana’s Santiago Elementary School, who won a competition with a drawing that will be reproduced on posters to promote child abuse prevention.

“You’re very talented and very creative. Are you very nervous too?” Stanton asked Levy. (Not satisfied with the youngster’s grin and blush, the supervisor asked him to “say a few words,” then coached the shy honoree through a nearly inaudible “Thank you.”)

William Steiner, who heads the Orangewood Children’s Foundation, played it loose presenting an award to Gene Howard, director of Children’s Services for the county’s Social Services Agency.

After reciting formal commendations, Steiner kidded, “But really Gene, you’ve gotta stop marching those toddlers around like a drill sergeant.”

Also Honored

Denise Sofka of the Developmental Disabilities Center in Orange was given an award by Loren O’Connor, from the state Social Services Advisory Board’s Committee on Child Abuse Prevention.

The Bergen Brunswig Corp., a pharmaceuticals company in Orange, was honored for its child-care and family-support policies. An award was presented by Supervisor Don R. Roth.

And Deborah Stewart, a pediatrician at the UCI Medical Center, was named Child Advocate of the Year and presented an award by Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder.

Accepting her award, Deborah Stewart took a deep breath, looked out at the crowd, and said, “This would be a whole lot easier if you were all about 5 years old.”