At The Children’s Center, Child Abuse Prevention Month is more than a series of events; it’s a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to protect children, support families, and build a safer future for the next generation. Throughout April 2025, we planted seeds of hope through a variety of awareness activities designed to inspire action and foster community connection.
We invite you to look back at some of the most memorable highlights from this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month in Medina County.
Wear Blue Day
Our Board of Directors stands united in their commitment to keeping kids safe and helping them on their path to healing. They proudly Wear Blue to show their support during Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The Children Center of Medina County’s staff is proudly Wearing Blue in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every child deserves to be safe, loved, and protected.
Pinwheel Garden Project
Pinwheel Walk
Thank you to the businesses, organizations, and individuals who donated their time, talent, and resources to help make the Pinwheel Walk a wonderful event!
Volunteers from Huntington National Bank brought their treat tent and plenty of cool treats. Everyone loved getting a photo with Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio and The Fairytale Foundation. How great did the Historic Medina Square arches and library look decked out in the amazing balloon creations from Bubbles & Bows LLC? EnchantaRoo Face and Body Art made many kids’ day with her artistic creations. Medina County Job and Family Services helped children craft their own artistic Pinwheels. Be SMART for Kids, OhioSTART Program (Public Children Services Association of Ohio) and Hope Recovery Community shared resources and activities. The Medina County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Police Unit brought smiles to many faces. Pam Flora took photos with our Child Abuse Prevention Month frame and Small Hands Big Dreams Learning Center encouraged participants to leave encouraging messages about how they stand up for children on the chalkboard to be displayed in the Foster Care Visitation Center. Photographs are courtesy of Brooklyn Media. Video was captured and edited by David Samuelson, DST Inc.
We are grateful for volunteers, David and Toula Barlow and Charlcie Towne and Quill Towne, who marked the locations for the Pinwheels to be planted. John and Kristen Minichello helped prep the garden, and with Pam Flora, created and hung the banners. The Children’s Center Staff set up the event. Medina Christian Academy students, Carol Rhodes, and Nadia Lenhart for cleaning, sorting and counting Pinwheels. Anna Guy-Leach, Brandi Provoznik-Rees, Kennedy Rondini, Mary Toth, and Charlcie Towne registered attendees on site. Amy Cox answered questions about The Children’s Center at the Outreach Table while Ellysa Paras, Amanda Hansen, and Jenine Tanner passed out Pinwheels for attendees to plant in the Pinwheel Garden. Madison Davisson took charge of the audio system providing music and microphones.
Thank you to City of Medina – City Hall Councilman John Coyne and Medina County Commissioner Aaron Harrison for presenting Proclamations recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Layne Hedden, Medina County Job and Family Services’ Foster Parent Recruiter shed light on the crucial need each child has for a village to support them. Ashley Krause did a fantastic job as the emcee. The Medina Police Department Auxiliary helped control traffic keeping everyone safe.
A very special thank you to Laurel Ridenour for bravely sharing her experience overcoming the impact of Child Abuse and Neglect. The Medina County District Library has been a wonderful host and a fantastic location for the Pinwheel Garden.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the staff and Board of Directors at The Children’s Center who all worked together for many months to make this a successful event, and the supportive community that came to spend a beautiful day raising awareness for children to be safe, loved, and protected.
Thank you so much!
Photo Credit: Brooklyn Media
