Children's charity hopes to bag donations with celebrities' help

Friends of Child Advocacy recently announced it has received more than 12 celebrity handbags for its upcoming fundraiser to begin April 11.

The "Handbags Full of Hope" event will be held as a two-week auction through eBay, and to date the organization has received auction donations from big-name celebrities such as Susan Sarandon, Tony Hawk, Supernanny Jo Frost, Charles Grodin, Danica Patrick, Greg Kinnear and others.

Funds from the "Handbags Full of Hope" event will help Friends of Child Advocacy provide counseling, medical attention and other services to help sexually and severely physically abused children in Kane County. A nonprofit organization, Friends of Child Advocacy is completely volunteer based. All proceeds go directly to services for the children.

"These celebrities have been so caring and compassionate - it's heartwarming," stated committee Chairwoman Jenni Petty. "We're thrilled with these initial donations, and we've just begun. A local PR company has donated its services to help us promote 'Handbags Full of Hope,' and we've now made contact with dozens of other A-list celebrities."

Parties interested in more information about the "Handbags Full of Hope" event can e-mail handbaghope@aol.com or visit www.handbagsfullofhope.org

Friends of Child Advocacy raises funds to provide extra services for the hundreds of severely physically and sexually abused children whose cases are investigated by the Kane County Child Advocacy Center. Friends of Child Advocacy assists with funds for counseling sessions and medical examinations, supports advocacy programs, funds education and training for counselors, coordinates a Sponsor-a-Family program at Christmas for families in need, and provides the center with items that directly benefit the needs of the children.

The Child Advocacy Center was established in 1994 to ensure coordination and cooperation among all agencies involved in child sexual abuse and to assure that all cases involving child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse in Kane County are handled in a consistent and child sensitive manner based on protection, safety and respect for abused children and their families.