Shenandoah Chefalo is back, continuing on for those who can’t find their voice.
Welcome to the 62nd episode of Giving Back Insights, my Thursday solo show where I talk about how our guests and their charities serve others, to explore actions each of can take to make a difference in people’s lives and to share.
#4600AndCounting was born out of 3 sisters who were living in foster care and went missing in Kansas. Their disappearance ended up uncovering the fact that at least 70 CHILDREN are MISSING from foster care in Kansas alone. Parentless children who have been abused, mistreated and without love have been groomed for predators – and it is time for us to let our most vulnerable know that we care and are looking for them.
Most of the children who go missing in foster care have no missing posters and no designation. Many of these children are unreported as the foster families hide the abuse they are perpetrating, or more commonly continue to collect checks on behalf of these children for as many months as they can before discovery.
Listen to today’s episode and don’t forget to give your feedback and valuable comment. Enjoy!
Tweet ThisKey Takeaways:
Foster care loses approx. 88 children a week, what are WE going to change?
Over 4600 children are missing from foster care, and no one is looking for them.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1 in 6 runaways end up being sex trafficked; 83% of children who run from social services make up that 1 in 6.
Within the first 48 hours on the street, a child WILL be approached by an exploiter/predator.
Learn more and sign the petition to DO SOMETHING for these kids, OUR kids:
Shenandoah Chefalo, Author Speaker & Foster Care Advocate, has felt the shame of being labeled, and the desperation of being alone. She checked herself into foster care at 13 only to find it was no better than the abusive home she left. Shen understood the reality of her situation and came to a point in her teens when she realized that no one cared if she lived or died. No one would come looking for her if she disappeared. No one would even know that she was gone.
Marnie Grundman, Author, Speaker, & Homeless Youth Advocate, was a child who belonged to no one, missing at the tender age of 13, in her years living on the streets she experienced the worst of humanity firsthand. In her darkest hours while living in an apartment complex sauna sure that everyone who knew her had forgotten her she decided she was paying up front for a better life that lay ahead.
Marnie and Shenandoah made it through; even more than that, they have risen above their tragic childhoods and devoted their lives to ensuring that no more children live without the basics of love and safety. They have turned their scars into light, their outrage into action, and now come before you together to spark a revolution: ##4600AndCounting
#4600AndCounting is a project born out of 3 sisters who were living in foster care and went missing in Kansas. Their disappearance ended up uncovering the fact that at least 70 children are missing from foster care in Kansas alone.
Parentless children who have been abused, mistreated and without love have been groomed for predators – and it is time for us to let our most vulnerable know that we care and are looking for them.
Most of the children who go missing in foster care have no missing posters and no designation. Many of these children are unreported as the foster families hide the abuse they are perpetrating, or more commonly continue to collect checks on behalf of these children for as many months as they can before discovery.
#4600AndCounting represents the number of children we know are missing from “care.” Most have no one looking for them; labeled as runaways. The danger they are in is discounted by the officials charged with protecting them.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1 in 6 runaways end up being sex trafficked; 83% of children who run from social services make up that 1 in 6.
It is our mission to bring these children to safety and raise awareness of their plight.
You can make a difference. Join us in bringing our children home showing them they matter.
How you can help:
Donate your time and/or services – this is a grassroots project, so there is much to be done as we begin raising money to fund #4600AndCounting
Immediate need:
- Non-profit status in Canada and USA – we need someone to help us file, and we need funds to cover the fees
- Logo – graphic designer
- Website – designer and hosting
- PR/Branding Agency willing to donate their services
- APP developer – with the intent of building something interactive that shows where the children are missing from and also has a system wherein each time a child is reported missing there is a notification based on geographical proximity.
High profile public supporters that we would like to help us join the fight:
Oprah Winfrey
Ashton Kutcher
Lisa Ling
Ellen Degeneres
John Walsh
A contact in the NFL – We are hoping to draw attention to #4600AndCounting at the Super Bowl. We are in the process of uncovering the faces of the ones that have been reported missing.
Please start using the hashtag #4600andcounting on social media and share our page.
Donate to our crowdfunding campaign.
Beyond the list above we are open to all help and suggestions PLEASE contact us now to get involved 4600AndCounting@gmail.com
Learn more and sign the petition to DO SOMETHING for these kids, OUR kids:
Remember: Always err on the side of love & kindness.
Love & Gratitude,
Rob
