Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
Butterfly Bridge Children Advocacy Center, or Butterfly Bridge CAC, will be hosting their 7th Annual Clay 4 Kids Fundraiser benefiting Elmore and Autauga Counties.
The event is on August 16th with morning and afternoon shoots being held. The event will take place at the Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Club with check in at 8 a.m. and the shoot starting at 9 a.m. The afternoon shoot has check in at 1 p.m. with the shoot starting at 2 p.m.
Registration, donations and sponsorships are still open and available on their website at, https://clay4kids.swell.gives.
“This is our 7th year having this event. When we started this event years ago it was only benefiting our Elmore County office because we had a separate fundraiser in Autauga County that was a silent and live auction. We started out with only 11 teams in our first year, the following year there were 24 teams, and the third year we had over 30. This will be our 4th year with a combined fundraiser for both Elmore and Autauga counties,” Assistant Director/Child Forensic Interview Specialist with Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, Emily Hutcheson said.
Now in the seventh year, each respective shoot has over 30 teams and combined have over 60 teams total this year. So far, $68,610 has been raised as of July 8th, but the goal is to raise $95,000 that will be split between the two counties, Hutcheson stated.
According to their website, the mission of Butterfly Bridge CAC is to offer a safe, child-friendly environment to children victimized by abuse or neglect. Through their mission, Butterfly Bridge also tries to provide restoration and justice in the lives of local children that have been through the unimaginable.
This CAC services both Elmore and Autauga Counties locally, and also aims to provide restoration and justice into the lives of children in the area, Hutcheson stated.
“Every day children victimized by abuse come to the Butterfly Bridge CAC where they find caring professionals and community partners who dedicate themselves to helping them through the nightmare of abuse and neglect. The Center provides a friendly environment where children can safely tell their story and receive the support they need. Within the Center, families find support, resources, and most importantly a place where healing begins,” Hutcheson said.
Butterfly Bridge CAC offers forensic interviews to children, if there are allegations of abuse or neglect. While the interview is happening law enforcement and Department of Human Resources are able to observe the interview through a closed-circuit camera system.
This alleviates the child having to relive and talk through allegations with multiple unknown people. Only talking to one individual minimizes further trauma for that child, according to Hutcheson.
“We also provide free therapy to the children, which is a trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy. We have family advocates who are able to walk the caregiver and family through the whole process. They are with them every step of the way from the time the child first comes for that initial forensic interview until years down the road if the case goes through the criminal justice system,” Hutcheson said.
Hutcheson stated the money raised will go directly back to the offices within Elmore and Autauga Counties. Different sponsorships are available and can be found on their website at, https://clay4kids.swell.gives.
More sponsorships, teams and volunteers, particularly for the afternoon, are needed in order to reach this year’s goal. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or to make a mail in donation, email Emily Hutcheson at [email protected]
“The most rewarding part of my job with Butterfly Bridge CAC is being a part of a child’s story and seeing them overcome the most horrible things you could ever imagine, but not letting it define who they are for the rest of their lives. This event helps to support our Autauga and Elmore County offices. The money raised goes directly back to these offices so that we can provide the crucial services needed for the children and families we serve,” Hutcheson said.
