THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407220539
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
About two weeks ago, Cynthia Grafton gathered her two young sons by her side to explain why she had been so busy and stressed as executive director of Kids First Inc.
The advocacy center for child-abuse victims, she told them, was running out of money. She was scrambling to keep things together.
The boys, 10-year-old Sean and 7-year-old Steven, left their mother's side and returned with every cent from their piggy banks. Grafton said she broke down and cried.
``It reminded me that adults can forget what's important,'' she said Thursday. ``And kids can show us what's important.''
Her children's actions also planted an idea in Grafton's head: A ``kids helping kids'' campaign to raise money for the center, which lost out on an expected state grant last month and is barely keeping its head above water.
Since Grafton announced that the 2-year old advocacy center was in dire straits, the agency has received about $2,500 in individual donations and several offers of volunteer help.
Kids First is calling on church youth groups to organize fund-raisers to keep the center going until more money comes in.
The group is planning a fund-raiser with McDonald's and will participate in a children's fair at Southgate Mall next month, Grafton said. Some parents of children who use the center said they are working to raise money.
``The people who really do care are starting to come through for us,'' Grafton said. ``I've got enough now to make sure that we don't have to close our doors.
``It really has restored my faith in humanity.''
Belt-tightening has resulted in the loss of a part-time secretary and sporadic pay for Grafton, but she says the agency is ``trying to operate as completely as we can.''
Kids First began in July 1992 as the Northeastern Children's Co-op. It was formed during the height of the Little Rascals sex-abuse trials and grew out of a concern that services for child-abuse victims were fragmented and inadequate.
Kids First provides examinations, counseling and court preparation for child-abuse victims and their families, all without charge.
The center, which also aims to coordinate the law enforcement and social agencies that deal with child-abuse cases, has had rocky relationships in the past with some peer agencies.
But Grafton, who took the helm in February, said she is working to smooth over those relationships and is building new bridges with such crucial allies as the District Attorney's Office.
New lines of communication and local support show ``it's starting to come through,'' Grafton said. ``It's exciting to watch.'' MEMO: Anyone wanting to make a contribution to the center should call Kids
First Inc. at (919) 338-5658. by CNB