The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC), the world’s first child protection agency, held its third annual Spring Luncheon on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at The Pierre Hotel in New York City at 12pm.

 

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Spring Luncheon program focused on the prevention of child sexual abuse. Elizabeth Mayhew and Valesca Guerrand-Hermes served as the Luncheon Co-Chairs. The afternoon program was hosted by NBC News’ National Correspondent, Kate Snow, and featured Aaron Fisher, nationally known as “Victim 1” in the Jerry Sandusky child abuse case, his mother, Dawn Hennessy, and his psychologist, Michael Gillum in a panel discussion with The NYSPCC Executive Director, Dr. Mary Pulido. The three panelists co-authored the book, “Silent No More, Victim 1’s Fight For Justice Against Jerry Sandusky.”

 

Aaron Fisher has become an inspiration to victims of child sexual abuse by having the courage to speak up to stop the abuse, and urging parents to listen to their children. Now twenty years old, Aaron is dedicated to helping victims worldwide. Dawn Hennessy bravely stood by her son and fought for his voice to be heard during one of the most-watched cases of child sexual abuse in the nation’s history. Michael Gillum was instrumental in both creating the circumstances where Aaron could reveal the trauma perpetrated against him and in assuring Jerry Sandusky was in fact prosecuted for his crimes.

 

The luncheon had 180 guests in attendance, and raised more than $255,000 for The NYSPCC’s child sexual abuse prevention program, Safe Touches: Personal Safety Training for Children, and The NYSPCC’s Trauma Recovery Program.

 

Notable attendees: Dr. Mary Pulido (Executive Dir, NYSPCC), Kate Snow (Luncheon Host and Correspondent, NBC News), David Stack (President of The NYSPCC’s Board of Directors), Valesca Guerrand-Hermes (Co-Chair),Elizabeth Mayhew (Co-Chair), Frederick Anderson, Graciela Bittar, Serena Boardman, Celeste Boele, Eliza R. Bolen, Alison Brokaw, Cristina Cuomo, Jennifer Creel, Ide Dangoor, Victor De Souza, Diandra de Morrell Douglas, Patrizia di Carrobio, Susan Edelstein, Lise Evans, Suzanne Gault, Maarit Glocer, Joan Granlund, Penny Gorman, Penny Grant M.D., Kimberly Guilfoyle (Anchor, Fox News), Shelley Goldberg (Reporter, NY1), Tania Higgins, Karen Klopp, Joy Marks, Valerie Mogul, Deborah Norville (Anchor, Inside Edition) and Karl Wellner (Board of Directors, NYSPCC), Alexandra Lind Rose, Kelly Rutherford (Actress), Christine Schwarzman, Sarah Senbahar, Jean Shafiroff, Susan Shin, Whitney Topping, and Bettina Zilkha.