The first Kaleidoscope of Hope Soiree on May 31 attracted 115 local community members as well as key stakeholders in law enforcement, social services and health care that support the work of Carolyn's Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center. The event was an amazing success raising more than $42,000 to sustain potential gaps in federal funding to child advocacy centers across the nation. 

    Brunswick, Columbus and Bladen District Attorney Jon David was the speaker at the event. He said the work of Carolyn's Kaleidoscope has been indispensable to the community. Since January, because of interviews conducted with children at the center, there have been 7 convictions of child abusers connected to cases in either Columbus, Bladen or Robeson counties. Since January, the center has conducted interviews and exam with about 100 children, an increase from 2023.

"I began to notice a disparity between outcomes of these cases in Brunswick relative to Columbus and Bladen," he said. "I was overjoyed when I heard that the Boys and Girls Homes was going to start up a child advocacy center in Columbus," he said. Carolyn's Kaleidoscope has been serving child victims of physical and sexual abuse in Columbus, Bladen and Robeson counties since 2019. It plans to compete its national accreditation with the National Children's Alliance in 2024.