Once again inspiring and educating the community, this year’s Child Abuse Awareness Benefit will feature Keynote Speaker Ashley Rhodes-Courter, Best Selling author and Child Welfare Advocate. The riveting event, hosted by Friends of Joshua House Foundation, will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2022 at Tampa Armature Works, 1910 Ola Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602.
Born in 1985 to a single teen mother Ashley was placed in foster care at the age of 3. Most of her 14 placements were abusive and overcrowded. In one home, 16 people lived in a small trailer where the children were regularly beaten, neglected, verbally assaulted, and starved. Another foster parent
became a convicted pedophile. At one point, she was also placed with an alcoholic relative that was shot twice in front of her. After spending almost ten years in the system, Ashley was finally adopted from a group home when she was twelve. Instead of seeing herself as a victim, Ashley has used her experience to find the strength to accomplish incredible things. She became a New York Times Bestselling author by age 22, holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work, ran for Florida State Senate at age 26, created and
heads a non-profit organization, and she has been a foster parent to more than 20 children. She delivers her story with humor and grace, and attendees will leave energized and ready to take on the world!
The luncheon benefits Joshua House, which provides services to foster children throughout Tampa Bay, and is well known as one of Florida’s premier therapeutic programs for children who have been abused, abandoned and neglected.. These children have been removed from their homes due to crisis and many have been through multiple foster homes. The caring and dedicated staff and volunteers at Joshua House provide homelike environments, love, nurturing and stability for every child in their care.
Tickets are for the luncheon $50 per person, with table sponsorships beginning at $1000.00. For further information on tickets or Corporate Sponsorship, please contact us at (813) 406-5694 or email dgrundel@friendsofjoshuahouse.org.