FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2025
CONTACT
Gina McCord
Executive Director, Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor
(913) 314-3160 gina@kidsaresacred.org
Missouri Network Against Child Abuse presents 2025 Standing with Children Award to Carol and John D’Attoma, founders, Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor (SACRED)
Overland Park, KS –The Missouri Network Against Child Abuse (MO-NACA) presented the 2025 Standing with Children Awards on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Jefferson City, MO. Our Founders, John and Carol D’Attoma, were among the 4 awardees of the 2025 Standing with Children Awards. The other awardees are Senator Lincoln Hough (R-30), Senator Tracy McCreery (D-24) and Verna Kelsey, outgoing Executive Director of the North Central Missouri Children’s Advocacy Center.
SACRED (Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor) is a grassroots organization based in Kansas City which was founded by John and Carol D’Attoma after their granddaughter was sexually abused by her father. The resulting financial hardship opened their eyes to what families who experience sexual abuse endure. SACRED provides immediate financial assistance to families in need due to the sexual abuse of a child or children. “SACRED is there to help families with whatever is needed. Whether it is rent, utilities, car payments, whatever it may be, they are there to help families get on their feet,” said Lisa Mizell, President & CEO of the Child Protection Center in Kansas City who nominated the D’Attomas for the recognition. “But most importantly are the simple acts of kindness they show. They listen and learn, making both them and their organization more effective.” SACRED has donated more than $1.3 million to 545 families and 1,463 children in 21 states. They work with all fifteen Child Advocacy Centers in Missouri.
About the Standing with Children Awards
The first Standing with Children Awards were made in 2014 to former state Rep. Marsha Haefner, former state Rep. Sue Allen and U.S. Senator Blunt. Over the years, awards have been given to legislators and child advocates who made important contributions to child protection in Missouri. Recipients are individuals who have advanced the child advocacy center (CAC) movement in Missouri, promoted the use of multidisciplinary teams in child abuse investigations and championed legislation that creates safer communities for children by supporting Children’s Division and traditional MDT partners and funding for CACs, the SAFE-CARE program and other agencies and services that are critical to advancing child protection in Missouri.
About Missouri Network Against Child Abuse
Founded in 2002, Missouri Network Against Child Abuse (MO-NACA, formerly Missouri KidsFirst) is the state chapter of Missouri’s fifteen accredited regional Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) and the seat of Prevent Child Abuse Missouri. MO-NACA works to empower adults with solutions to support the safety of children.
