Poteau Daily News

Aug Celebration of real-life heroes

03

2018 For The Children

Page Joe Dorman
0004
o
Clip Last Friday was the second an-
resized nual Oklahoma Institute for Child
a
46% Advocacy Heroes Ball, and it was a
h
huge success.
e
s I want to first thank all the volun-
e teers and staff members who made
e it possible to have nearly 400 people
come together and recognize real-
r life champions for children in our
e state.
. OICA considered dozens of great
o Oklahomans as potential honorees,
f but in the end we selected the Chick-
asaw Nation, Lou Kerr and the late Peyton Keith, left, and Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy CEO
e Joe Dorman attend the OICA Heroes Ball in costume. At right, Bella
- Sen. Ed Long as this year’s heroes.
Attendees also voted on a People’s the Dog gets a new and very loving owner.
s
Choice Award, which this year went
we could be a part of helping such a exist in the home. If a proper inves-
d to Cody Inman, a staff member for
sweet dog start a new life. tigation is conducted locally when a
d the Oklahoma Department of Hu-
OICA and the Humane Society report of suspected abuse is made,
- man Services, and Peppers Ranch.
have more common causes than then this could prevent other issues
y At the event, we held an auction people might think, because there is
to help raise funds for our programs. from arising with children or the el-
- a proven link between animal abuse
I want to personally thank all five re- derly.
) and child abuse. As the National
maining candidates for governor of The Link Coalition intends to
f Link Coalition (which works to stop
Oklahoma for agreeing that whom- work with lawmakers to address
o violence against both people and an-
m ever should win, they would allow these concerns at the state level, but
imals) says, “Violence towards hu- there will also be work done with
for a meal to be served at the Gover- mans or animals can take the form
- nor’s Mansion for the winning bid- the cities and towns from around the
of physical, sexual or emotional state to craft municipal ordinances.
e der that will be prepared by Execu- abuse or neglect. While most animal
e tive Chef of Sonic Eddie Hartwick. This “first line of defense” at the
cruelty investigations involve un- local level can help intervention at
r We even had Drew Edmondson intentional neglect, many uncover
y, and Kevin Stitt attend the banquet the earliest stage of an investigation
intentional neglect and abuse. All
e and assist with the auction, and they and be the preventative measure we
cases have the potential to be con-
n were great sports (Mick Cornett, nected to other forms of violence or need to reduce child abuse in Okla-
- Chris Powell and Rex Lawhorn were dysfunction in the home, and animal homa.
unable to reschedule events they control officers and humane law in- If you have further interest in get-
r had, but they provided assistance to vestigators are often ‘first respond- ting involved with this cause, please
s OICA in place of attending). ers’ and the first point of contact for reach out to us at info@oica.org and
- Another very special auction item a family in need of assistance.” we will connect you with the Okla-
g was a partnership with the Okla- The Oklahoma Institute for Child homa Link Coalition.
d homa Humane Society to provide Advocacy is proud to be a partner
e a puppy that needed a new home to with the Oklahoma Link Coali- Joe Dorman is CEO of the
d the winning bidder. Bella, a 4-pound tion. The group of various organi- Oklahoma Institute for Child
s terrier puppy, went to a loving fam- zations is working to educate those Advocacy and served as a 12-year
s ily (who I personally know will treat in law enforcement and our policy member of the Oklahoma House of
k her like royalty). She was a huge hit makers that animal abuse is a key Representatives. Contact him at
at the party and we were excited that indicator of other problems likely jdorman@oica.org.
d
y

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