Supporters of Lake Co. Advocacy Center honored

Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller recently honored a group of individuals and organizations for their support of the Children's Advocacy Center.

Nearly 300 children a year who have been sexually or physically abused receive services from the center, which became the second facility of its kind in the country when it opened in 1987.

The Fred L. Foreman Award for significant effort on behalf of the center went to former Assistant State's Attorney Bolling Haxall.

Waller said Haxall, now a prosecutor with the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, understood the complexities of child abuse cases and demonstrated outstanding compassion for victims in his 10 years as a Lake County prosecutor.

Three Community Support Awards were given to the Lake County Juvenile Officer's Association, former Waukegan police chief Phillip Stevenson and Sharon Dimitrejevich, the first certified sexual assault nurse examiner in the county.

Dean Kharasch, an investigator in Waller's office since 2001, received the Law Enforcement Award for his work in the fields of cyber crimes and child Internet and cell phone safety.

Finally, students from Hillcrest Middle School in Wilmette took home the Incredible Kids Award for providing goody bags for children clients of the center to use while waiting to testify in court.

Volunteers needed

The Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center in Gurnee is looking for volunteers to assist its efforts to combat sexual abuse of women.

The center is in particular need of volunteers who can donate time during daylight hours to work in prevention programs in schools, court advocacy for victims and special events.

Both men and women volunteers are needed, and there is a special need for women of color and bilingual applicants.

To find out more about the volunteer opportunities, call Wendy Ivy at (847) 244-1187, ext. 24.