GREENVILLE, S.C. (April 4, 2017) – Bob Jones University will display pinwheel gardens at the Wade Hampton Boulevard entrance during the month of April in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Since 2008, the bright blue pinwheel has served as the national symbol of child abuse prevention as it symbolizes a happy and healthy childhood–something every child deserves. This is the third year BJU has participated in this nationwide event.
“The impact of child abuse is devastating for children, their families, and our entire community,” says Dr. Julie Hartman, teacher education professor and program coordinator for early child care and development and early childhood education programs at BJU. “The pinwheels are meant to bring attention to the problem of abuse and serve as a symbol of community resolve to work together to prevent child abuse of any kind because real solutions can only be offered as we continue working together for the best interests of all children.”
BJU’s early child care and education faculty and students will again host Greenville’s Picnic in the Park event Wednesday, April 5, and will participate in the annual Walk for Prevention Sunday, April 23, which culminates in a community pinwheel garden planting at the Julie Valentine Memorial in Cleveland Park.
On Saturday, April 8, Hartman will facilitate a training session in Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children,” a child sexual abuse awareness and prevention program, for BJU students as well as youth and ministry workers from the local community.
Students from the School of Education and BJU Bruins student athletes will plant the gardens at BJU April 7. The gardens will remain in place until April 24.
