Fifth Annual Dinner with Ditka on August 11 Shines a Light on Child Abuse

Kids Have Hope, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, is proud to announce its Fifth Annual Dinner with Ditka event taking place at Mike Ditka's Steakhouse on Thursday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. The organization is dedicated to preventing the physical and sexual abuse of children through empowerment and educational programs. Kids Have Hope uses evidence-based educational curriculums for students, teachers and parents in the form of student and classroom services, teacher in-services and educational parental seminars. As a result, students learn how to stay safe against abusers while adults are taught how to help prevent, recognize and report the signs of abuse. In an effort to reduce the overall occurrence of child abuse, the Fifth Annual Dinner with Ditka event will help fund these essential programs to educate and care for victims of child abuse.

"Kids Have Hope is thrilled for the Fifth Annual Dinner with Ditka event in collaboration with hall of famer Mike Ditka to help raise awareness around child abuse and improve the lives of Chicagoland children," said Melissa Curk, MSW, LSW and founder of Kids Have Hope. "This event is a celebration of the organization's accomplishments as it continues to fuel our mission and allows for us to educate and assist more children through additional programs."

This year's event will feature dinner, drinks, live music, a silent auction and a meet & greet with the Chicago icon. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are available for $150 or $1,450 for a table. The Fifth Annual Dinner with Ditka will help fund the essential programs needed to educate and care for victims of child abuse, furthering the Kids Have Hope mission of raising community awareness.

According to Safe Horizon, 2.9 million cases of child abuse are reported each year in the United States. Of these cases, 80 percent of abused children are more likely to develop a psychiatric disorder by the age of 21, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders and suicide attempts. Last year, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services reported a total of 8,014 child abuse and neglect cases in Cook County.

"Between four and five children die every day as a result of abuse and neglect," said Curk. "Raising awareness among teachers, parents and individuals in the community is essential to work toward our goal of preventing abuse. Through education, members of the community can begin to recognize the risks and signs of abuse and put a stop to the harmful cycle."

Kids Have Hope offers a wide range of services, including educational courses on emotional, physical and sexual abuse, as well as violence and bullying prevention for teachers, parents, families, community members and healthcare professionals. Courses are offered in a classroom setting for children ranging from preschool to sixth grade. Additionally, teacher and parent seminars are offered to help educators and families identify the potential risks, as well as how to detect and report child abuse.

To learn more about Kids Have Hope's Dinner with Ditka and purchase tickets, visit http://www.kidshavehope.org/fundraisers/6Hope.

Kids Have Hope

Kids Have Hope is a Chicago based 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Educational programs are focused on sexual, emotional and physical abuse, as well as violence prevention and bullying. For more information visit, www.kidshavehope.org.