Lauren’s Kids Named Winner Of Alliance For Women In Media 2022 Gracie Award

Today, during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Lauren’s Kids announced its recognition as a 2022 Gracie Award winner for its television program, “Journey Home”.  “Journey Home” raised awareness about child sexual abuse and the resilience of survivors while documenting the devastation and months-long rebuild of the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center after it was ravaged by Hurricane Michael.

“We are honored to receive a Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media,” Senator Lauren Book, founder, and CEO of Lauren’s Kids, said. “In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, therapists and survivors were completely displaced, and therapy was being provided wherever possible, from fast food parking lots to atop downed tree trunks. Once we heard about the devastation, we knew we needed to do everything we could to help. ‘Journey Home’ serves as a powerful reminder that strength and resilience can be found even after the darkest of storms.”

The Alliance for Women in Media was formed in 1951, initially as American Women in Radio and Television. Nearly 25 years later, the annual award program was created to recognize individuals in the media who reflected women’s changing roles, issues, and concerns. This year marks the organization’s 47th anniversary of the Gracie Awards. The Gracies recognize individual achievement and exemplary programming created by, for, and about women in all facets of media and entertainment.

“Lauren’s Kids works to prevent child sexual abuse and help survivors heal. We’d like to dedicate this award to all of the incredible survivors, therapists, and staff at the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center who have helped to shine light in dark places,” Senator Book concluded.

Senator Lauren Book and the Lauren’s Kids Foundation had been a part of the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center family for more than a decade, first connecting in 2010 when Book stopped at the Center during her  “Walk in My Shoes”  event – a 1,500-mile trek across the state of Florida which Book completed annually between 2010 and 2018. The children’s stories and legal plights have inspired Book to successfully advocate for dozens of critical changes in the law to better protect survivors of abuse, including termination of parental rights for sexual predators when a child is born from rape.

More than $750,000 of the more than $1 Million rebuild was contributed by Lauren’s Kids’ partner, disaster response company AshBritt Environmental. The AshBritt Foundation has previously partnered with and supported Lauren’s Kids in remodeling children’s advocacy centers and sexual assault treatment centers throughout the state of Florida. This total rebuild was the partners’ largest renovation yet.

Armed with the knowledge that 95% of child sexual abuse and exploitation is preventable through awareness and education, visit www.laurenskids.org today to learn how to keep children and communities safe.

To join the celebration, follow the hashtag #TheGracies and @Allwomeninmedia.