During the month of May, the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office featured Lauren’s Kids, a statewide organization that works daily to prevent childhood sexual abuse through education and awareness. Lauren’s Kids was created in 2007 by State Senator Lauren Book, herself a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted caregiver. Senator Book has taken her own experiences and turned them into an opportunity to help children find hope and healing.
The five branch offices of the Pasco County Tax Collectors Office promoted the Lauren’s Kids specialty license plate and the Lauren’s Kids voluntary charitable donation check-off throughout the month of May. Additionally, cash donations were accepted at each office as well. The value of 73 specialty tags sold and cash donations collected equals $12,346.48.
“Senator Mike Fasano and the entire Pasco County Tax Collectors Office team are helping to make Pasco a safer place for children,” says Senator Lauren Book, Founder and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, a 501(c)(3) organization that works to prevent child sexual abuse and help survivors heal. “There are more than 42 million survivors of sexual abuse in the United States. In Pasco County, 1 in 3 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18 and 1 in 5 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 – but 95% of this abuse IS preventable through education and awareness. Thanks to the support of the Pasco County Tax Collectors Office, we are able to prevent abuse, protect childhood, and help survivors heal. Nothing is more important than keeping Florida’s innocent children safe, and we thank our partners in Pasco for helping to shine light in dark places.”
“Senator Lauren Book and her team have dedicated themselves to addressing one of the most heinous of crimes; childhood sexual abuse,” states Tax Collector Mike Fasano. “It was an honor for our staff to work with the community to raise funds for the good work this organization does on a daily basis. Thank you to every customer who invested in Lauren’s Kids by making a donation or purchasing a license plate. Your financial support will go a long way towards changing the life of a child in a positive way.”
For details about the charitable promotions sponsored by the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office or any other services provided, please call Greg Giordano, Assistant Tax Collector at 727-847-8179 or visit www.pascotaxes.com For more information about the services provided by Lauren’s Kids please visit www.laurenskids.org