Rockwall schools, businesses, health care, law enforcement co-sponsoring ‘Race to End Abuse’ 5K/Fitness Walk

Family violence, child abuse and dating abuse numbers have all skyrocketed dramatically over the past few years across Rockwall County and Texas.  Child abuse has soared 79% and family violence 61%. 

Now Heritage Christian Academy, Walmart, Rockwall ISD, Rockwall County DA Kenda Culpepper plus over a dozen more businesses, media, health care and law enforcement organizations are teaming up to raise awareness and funds for local campaigns to end abuse by co-sponsoring the first annual Lillian Smith Rockwall “Race To End Abuse” 5K/Family Fitness Walk.

The event is scheduled Oct. 31, 8-10 am, in the Kroger Food Store parking lot. Over 500 participants are expected. Runners will race 3.1 miles from Kroger to Country Club Dr. and then back to Kroger. Walkers will walk or jog one mile to Fox Chase Park and back.

Additional co-sponsors include Pepsi/Aquafina, Presbyterian Hospital of Rockwall, the Dallas Morning News Neighbors Go, TheRockwallNews.com, PegasusNews.com, Rockwall Enterprise-Success, Radio stations 93.5 FM “The Range” and 92.1 FM “The Possum,” Eclipse Fitness, Rockwall Running Center, Lady of America Fitness Clubs, Joe Willy’s and Taco Casa.

More co-sponsors can still participate with cash and/or in-kind donations of between $500 and $3,000. In return, co-sponsors receive a booth at the event, plus lots of positive publicity in current and future campaigns.

Organized by the Rockwall-based Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation, the non-profit will use funds raised for ad campaigns and video productions in local media, schools and communities to help end domestic, dating, child and family pet abuse. It is Texas’ largest network of survivors and other concerned citizens, founded and directed by Rockwall resident and vetran marketing consultant J.J. Smith, who has worked with hundreds of TX brands, including Exxon, Macy’s, Southwest Airlines and The Dallas Cowboys.

Click here to read the complete story at TheRockwallNews.com.

To preregister online or for registration and event details, visit www.racetoendabuse.com.

Please bring your families, friends and co-workers and enjoy the event!

Rockwall ISD Superintendent pledges to help develop family, dating violence presentations

Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. Gene Burton pledged today in a meeting with members of the Rockwall County Coalition Against Family Violence to contribute RISD technology to help develop video and powerpoint presentations to combat family and dating violence across Rockwall County.

Dr. Burton said he agreed that public education can be of great benefit in the community to help prevent the growing problems of family and dating violence, and that he and RISD will do whatever is possible to assist.

RISD Communications Director Sheri Fowler will assist Lillian Smith members with the technology to organize the presentations.

Also discussed at the meeting were alternative options to best educate students at all grade levels, including the Expect Respect curriculum currently being used in Hunt County by the Women In Need Women’s Shelter, as well as the Love Is Not Abuse program created by the Liz Claiborne Foundation, which is being used by hundreds of school districts nationwide.

A dramatic presentation called “The Yellow Dress,” was recommended for consideration by Lillian Smith members.

Attendees at the meeting were representatives from Women In Need, Rockwall Presbyterian Hospital, RISD, the Lillian Smith Foundation, plus the incoming Rockwall County District Attorney Kenda Culpepper.

AFter the meeting, she said she was very excited to learn about the Coalition and it’s workings. She added that she is anxious to take office so she can also help prevent and reduce family violence through the courts and criminal justice system.

For more news and information about Rockwall County, please visit our website newsmagazine at www.rockwallrocks.com.

Preventing family violence discussed with Rockwall city council member

A Rockwall man who witnessed his abusive father murder his mother and then commit suicide when he was a child met with a Rockwall city council member today to discuss starting a family violence prevention program for the City of Rockwall.

Rockwallrocks.com publisher J. J. Smith, who founded the Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation in memory of his mother and directs their public education efforts, met with City Council member Matt Scott, who is also an attorney who specializes in working with corporate human resources departments.

Both men have a particular interest in stopping family violence – which includes child abuse and sexual assaults – which is why Smith initially contacted Scott. As a City Council member, Scott has worked to make it difficult for convicted sex offenders to live in Rockwall.

Smith recommended that they utilize the free resources of the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence (www.caepv.org) which is a national association comprised of corporations including Blue Cross of Texas/Oklahoma, Texas Health Resources and the City of Chicago, which have developed family violence programs to assist employees.

Smith agreed to obtain and provide all of the documents from the CAEPV so that Scott can review and discuss using and implementing them with other City Council members. Scott plans to contact Blue Cross of Texas to learn more about how they have designed their program.

If elected, what Randy Puckett will do

I also interviewed Rockwall County Commissioner Precinct 3 candidate Randy Puckett during my weekly Sat. 9-11 am talk radio show “When Love Hurts” on AM 1400. Randy is a criminal investigator with the City of Rockwall Police Dept., where he’s worked for 19 years as an officer. He said he’s running for office because he believes that someone needs to represent the “working man and woman” in Rockwall on the County Commissioners Court, to maintain a broad cross-section of experience. He noted that outgoing Commissioner Bruce Beaty, whom the three candidates are seeking to replace, was Rockwall’s Chief of Police for many years. The Commissioners currently include an educator, a rancher and a businessman.

Puckett impressed me for his devotion to the community, and particularly for his interest in accomplishing many of the goals which I’m most interested in, namely: 1) establishing an overnight shelter for family violence victims, 2) hiring a full-time, proactive victim advocate, and 3) better educating the public to reduce and prevent family violence. He said more can be accomplished with health and human service issues by electing someone like him, who will ensure that such matters are regularly brought before the County, in addition to the necessary infrastructure issues.

Randy and his wife, who teaches school at Dobbs Elementary, are obviously deeply-committed to Rockwall and to helping those who are hurting and stand in need. He said he agrees that improving roads, decreasing traffic congestion and keeping taxes low are important, but his main focus is on health and human service needs. He said as an officer and investigator he’s worked together successfully with a broad cross-section of people throughout the community and believes this experience and ability will help him to be effective as a Commissioner.

Win or lose, Randy said he’ll still be working to make Rockwall a great place to live. I think Randy will make a fine Commissioner – another excellent candidate!