Child AbuseWatch to Honor Their 2009 Child Advocate Award Recipient

One Child International, the U.S. non-profit operator of Child AbuseWatch (www.abusewatch.net) is honoring its 2009 recipient of its Child Advocacy award this week.

The award will be presented to Vicki Tucci Esq. on Friday at City Hall in West Palm Beach by Mayor Lois Frankel. Ms. Tucci is the Circuit Director of the Guardian ad Litem Program (15th Judicial Circuit) of Palm Beach County. She was chosen from a short list of candidates in October.

"Ms.Tucci represents all that is important for child advocates," One Child chairman Evin Daly said. "Vicki is one of the silent sentinels who take care of our abused and abandoned children. Like many in her position her vital work goes unnoticed except to the people that matter; the children in her care."

Mr. Tucci oversees the care of thousands of abused, abandoned and neglected children annually through her staff and 350 Guardian ad Litem volunteers. These volunteers act as the eyes and ears of the judges in family court and represent the children's best interests in the courtroom.

Despite State budget cuts, Ms. Tucci has maintained and exceeded the level of services demanded by her program. In order to supplement her budgetary needs she implemented the creation of a dedicated non-profit to support the Guardian program; Speak Up For Kids. (www.speakupforkidspbc.org)

A broad cross section of Palm Beach and Florida's children's protective services and judiciary are expected to attend. Governor Charlie Crist has also been invited.

The event will be at City Hall at 3pm on Friday, November 13, West Palm Beach. For information contact One Child International at info@1child.net

About One Child International
One Child International's and Child AbuseWatch.net's (CAN) mission is the protection of children from abuse. This has many facets including providing worldwide access to child abuse prevention information and crisis links to the public through three dedicated websites. As advocates, CAN speaks up for the voiceless - children. As protectors CAN provides predator tracking and investigative resources to case managers and law enforcement. As educators CAN provides reports, resources and educational materials for health and law enforcement professionals.