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For Immediate Release Los Angeles, CA May 31, 2006 |
Press Contact: David Sommers Phone: (213) 974-1095 Fax: (213) 626-6941 |
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Reunion with Safe Surrender Infant
Thank you, Chief Freeman
for that introduction.
People often ask me what
my favorite part of being a County Supervisor is. I tell them that
my favorite part is when I get to be part of something truly
important that makes a difference in someone’s life. Well - today is
all about celebrating something important that truly has made a
difference in someone’s life - in fact, in many lives!
Today is a good day!
For nearly five years,
Safe Surrender has been at work in Los Angeles County - so far
saving 44 lives that could have otherwise ended up as a tragic
statistic.
Each year Safe Surrender
has been in effect the number of surrenders has gone up and the
number of abandonment’s has gone down. We’ve gone from 11
abandonment’s the first year of the program to 3 last year. We still
have much work to do - I won’t be happy and I won’t rest until we
have zero abandonment’s in Los Angeles County.
I believe that’s a
realistic goal - we have a program that gives mothers another
option… that gives them a way out, in the form of Safe Surrender.
And we have to look no further than this beautiful little girl and
her family to see the positive impact Safe Surrender has had.
We have many people in
the audience today that have been a part of making this program a
success. I want to thank the County staff members and community
members who were part of our original Safe Surrender task force.
Without your initial commitment and support of this program we would
be here celebrating milestones like the one we have here today. I want to thank the members of the Safe Surrender Public Information team for your ongoing dedication to get the word out about this program to the media and the community. I want to say a special thanks to the members of the media that are here. You deserve much of the credit for the 44 lives that have been saved. Thank you for your coverage of Safe Surrender and for reporting to the community that there is a safe and confidential solution for these newborns.
Above all I want to
thank you to Rob and Donna Leavitt. You have a beautiful daughter
and I thank you for opening your home and hearts to this little girl
and for allowing those of us involved in Safe Surrender to have a
small part in today’s reunion. This is the part of Safe Surrender we
never hear about - what happens to the babies after their handed
over. Because of protective custody laws we have never had a chance
to see the miracles of life that come out of this program.
That has all changed
with today’s reunion. I hope you are all as truly happy as I am to
be here and be part of this incredible event. Thank you. ### |
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