Photo credit: Pompy Portraits

Representatives from the City of Jacksonville, specialists from Wolfson Children’s Hospital, leadership from Family Support Services Duval & Nassau Counties, and dozens of community members recently marked National Child Abuse Prevention Month with the Blue Ribbon Benefit, a collaborative event benefiting family-first programs at the Center of Hope in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

From left to right: Jada Hunter, Executive Director of Community Reinvestment with the Centers of Hope; Octavius Davis, Director of Community Engagement and Recruiting, Family Support Services; Amy Hodge, Pediatric Trauma Nurse at Wolfson Children’s Hospital; Jenn Petion, President and CEO of Family Support Services; Lynn Sherman, Executive Director of Health Programs, City of Jacksonville; Carlos Cruz, Chief of Staff – Family Support Services. (Thursday, April 30, 2026 – Chanel Martin/FSS)

Lynn Sherman (left) presents Jada Hunter with the City’s Proclamation of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Jacksonville during the Blue Ribbon Benefit on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo: Pompy Portraits)

More than 100 people attended the event, held on April 30 at the Jacksonville Public Library on Laura Street in downtown Jacksonville, featuring speakers with powerful testimonies and calls to action; dinner catered by Tamika’s School of Epicure; a silent auction, and more. Jada Hunter, Executive Director of the Centers of Hope, also received the official proclamation of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Jacksonville from Lynn Sherman on behalf of Mayor Donna Deegan, highlighting the City’s ongoing support for prevention services and family-strengthening programs with the agencies.

In total, more than $15,000 was raised for family-focused programs with the Centers of Hope. Centers of Hope are community-based family resource centers designed to support, strengthen and empower families while providing access to critical resources, including food assistance, housing support, parenting and mental health resources, and much more. A community partnership with FSS, the Center of Hope has grown its location at the Emmett Reed Community Center for the past three years and will open a second location serving 32206 in June. For more information, go to CenterOfHopeFL.org. To make a gift to Family Support Services, go to FSSJax.org.