To help the Dorchester Child Advocacy Center with its ongoing capital campaign goals, two Summerville-based legislators last month donated $100,000 to the facility.
Both Rep. Chris Murphy and Sen. Sean Bennett presented the large chunk of change after touring the facility on Nov. 21.
“We are ecstatic to have a local legislative delegation that understands the value in providing services to child abuse victims,” said Kay Phillips, executive director of KPCAC. “Representative Murphy and Senator Bennett have worked hard to advocate for causes that better our community and we are grateful for their support of KPCAC.”
The legislators’ donation goes toward a $500,000 required match tied to a $1 million Roper St. Francis Physician’s Endowment.
The healthcare company awarded the center the money under the stipulation that nonprofit officials would raise half the amount, in order to receive the second of half of the endowment.
In 2017 the center unveiled a new plaque, dedicated to Roper St. Francis, located on one of the center’s two newly-renovating buildings. The construction project was part of the center’s $2.5 million capital campaign it commenced in 2014.
The effort entailed constructed a 6,000-square-foot expansion on the Clinical Services Program building and adding an MUSC medical suite for conducting forensic medical exams onsite, the release said.
A third building, an expansion of the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Program, is currently underway on the property.
The renovation is expected to conclude by early next year, the release said.
Center officials said the campaign will help meet the nonprofit’s growing demand for services, which focus on the treatment of neglected and abused children—many of whom have been sexually assaulted.
The center also aids in the prosecution and investigation of cases connected to each victim.
While the facility is located in Summerville, it treats a large number of children living in Berkeley and Charleston counties, according to center officials.
The KPCAC was founded in 2003, and to date has served more than 12,000 children.
Russ Touchberry, KPCAC board chair, was also on hand to accept the donation.
