Zonta Club Supports PEI Kids’ Counseling Services for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse

Oct. 2, 2012–LAWRENCE, N.J.-On the evening of Thursday, October 4, the Zonta Club of Trenton/Mercer will honor Mercer County nonprofit PEI Kids with a grant supporting its Crisis Intervention for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Program. The award will be presented at the Club’s 9^th Annual Gourmet Garden food and wine tasting event, held at The Stone Terrace by John Henry’s at 2275 Kuser Road, in Hamilton Square, NJ, from 6 – 9 pm.

PEI Kids’ Crisis Intervention for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Program provides therapy to over 95 percent of Mercer County’s reported victims. Each year, the Lawrenceville-based organization serves approximately 250 child victims and their parents and siblings with counseling and support groups relating to the trauma of sexual abuse.

“PEI Kids shares the Zonta Club’s commitment to helping women and children, and we are very appreciative of its support,” says Penny Ettinger, Executive Director of PEI Kids. “One out of every four girls and one out of every six boys are the victims of child sexual abuse. Without appropriate intervention and counseling, the trauma and its after effects can be devastating to them and their futures. PEI Kids’ Crisis Intervention for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Program helps these young, innocent victims and their supportive family members heal.”

PEI Kids also serves as the lead agency of the Greater Mercer Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, comprising representatives from all 13 Mercer municipalities and cross disciplines including the medical community, child welfare, adult survivors of sexual abuse, law enforcement, religion and education. The Coalition’s goals include educating every adult who works and/or lives in Mercer County on 1) how to prevent child sexual abuse, 2) how to recognize when a child may be being abused and 3) how to respond appropriately.

The Zonta Club of Trenton/Mercer is part of Zonta International, a worldwide service organization of professionals working together to improve the status of women and children. For more than 90 years, Zonta International, in cooperation with various United Nations agencies, has provided financial and technical support to women and children in developing countries. The Zonta International Strategies to Eradicate Violence against Women and Children focuses on prevention, awareness and education as well as developing solutions to eliminate abuse against women and children.

The 2012 Gourmet Garden will be an exciting experience, providing guests with a tasting of the finest foods from area restaurants, a sampling of wines from around the world provided by vendors of Glendale Liquors, and the opportunity to bid on specialty baskets and silent auction items. Tickets are $55 (or two for $100) in advance, and $65 at the door. Proceeds will be awarded to Zonta supported community outreach programs, service projects and scholarships in Mercer County.

For more information about the event, call 609-658-1371 or 609-737-3614 or visit http://www.zontatrenton.org. To learn more about PEI Kids’ many programs and services for Mercer County children and families, and how you can support its efforts, please call 609-695-3739 or visit http://www.peikids.org. All calls regarding possible abuse are confidential.