Cowboy Up For Kids

Press release, contact: Kelly Carper Polden, 512/241-9296

The Hill Country Children¹s Advocacy Center announces it annual fall fundraiser entitled “Cowboy Up For Kids” on November 10 from 6-10pm at Colbert Ranch near Bertram. Money raised at Cowboy Up For Kids will enable HCCAC, a non-profit organization based in Burnet, to provide services at no cost to physically and sexually abused children and their non-offending family members in a seven county area, including Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills, and San Saba counties.

“The Cowboy Up For Kids event is an important fund-raiser for the center, enabling us to continue our mission of providing services in the seven country area,” said Deborah Keith, executive director for HCCAC. “Overall, grant funding is being decreased. We need to offset grant cuts to keep our financial budget in the black. Last year we raised $40,000 after expenses. We hope Cowboy Up For Kids meets or beats that amount of fundraising.”

According to Keith, the number of child victims continues to increase each year. In 2006 HCCAC provided services to more than 286 children and their non-abusing family members.

“We are into our 15th year of providing services,” said Yvonne Evans, founder of the Hill Country Children¹s Advocacy Center. “We need to raise money to continue to provide the same high-quality level of services for each additional child and his or her non-offending family members. One of our goals is to expand our therapy program and have more building space for the therapist. We want to offer an internship program and eventually be able to hire a prevention specialist educate the seven-county community on the effects of child abuse.”

In addition to assisting local law enforcement agencies with abuse investigations and medical exam services, HCCAC provides individual, family and group therapy as well as parenting and self-esteem classes. The Center also offers training to professionals and volunteers, and promotes public awareness of physical and sexual abuse issues.

Cowboy Up For Kids Event

Tickets for Cowboy Up For Kids are $100 per person and will include a steak dinner provided by Eddie Eppler Chuckwagon Productions and a full evening of activities. “Sergeant Sam” Cox from KLBJ-AM will be the master of ceremonies with a full line up of entertainment. KR Wood and his cowboy quartet band will captivate guests with Old West music, storytelling and performances. Attendees will enjoy listening and dancing to country and western music provided by the Jarrett Schaub Band. Diane Tatum of Hempstead, Texas, will be on hand for guest photo opportunities with Gateway and Hotshot, her prize Texas longhorn cattle. Guests will also enjoy Colbert Ranch hayrides, miniature horse races, and other activities.

“We're honored to host the Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center event. We promise to provide a real ranch experience while creating a little ‘fun-raising!’ ” said Patti Colbert, owner of Colbert Ranch.

Tickets and Information

Cowboy Up For Kids tickets are available by calling HCCAC at the telephone number listed below or sending an email to hccac@tstar.net. Event sponsors and silent auction donations are always welcome. The event will be held at Colbert Ranch, located on FM 1174. For directions visit www.ridecolbertranch.com. For more information on the Cowboy Up For Kids event or on services provided by the Hill Country Children¹s Advocacy Center call 512/756-2607.