Thank you to the Toymakers! We are so grateful for your many years of support. The Toymakers provide our Agency with colorful and sturdy wooden toys, most with wheels, which are huge favorites of our clients.

Thank you to the Mount Dora Community Trust for including us in their annual giving week. We are truly honored by your support of local charities and grateful for the chance to participate.

Visit mountdoracommunitytrust.com to learn more about this wonderful organization.

Thank you so much to all who supported our annual Children's Christmas Party! It was truly wonderful to see the joy that you brought to the children and their families at the event.

We received many needed donations from our wish lists and each child was able to open a gift with Santa Claus. The children were also able to visit with Mrs. Claus, hide from the Grinch and enjoy wonderful treats and face painting. Thank you to everyone who donated of their time to help wrap gifts and put together this wonderful evening.

On Saturday, December 2, our CAC received so many wonderful toys and gifts from the Tavares Hometown Christmas & Parade participants! We are truly overwhelmed by your generosity to the children of Lake and Sumter Counties. Our staff enjoyed the fantastic parade and festivities.

Our latest CAC Newsletter is available! Click here to download.

See what's inside:

• Season of Gratitude
• Department Updates
• Center Happenings
• Bids for Kids 2024 - Save the Date

We were honored to be the featured charity for The Villages Spanish Springs Town Square Tree Lighting Festival on November 29, 2023. Villagers braved the cold to enjoy the festivities and provide us with wonderful Christmas gifts for abused and neglected children of Lake and Sumter Counties. We sincerely thank you for your support.

Our next Bids for Kids fundraiser auction will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The online portion of our auction will open on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

Without your support, we would not be able to continue offering our services free of charge to the community. We sincerely appreciate your generosity and commitment to the children of Lake and Sumter counties.

QUICK LINKS:
Register to Bid at the Auction: Registration opens on January 15, 2024. Check back for more details!
Become a Sponsor
Donate Auction Items
Learn More

Financial contributions made to the Lake Sumter Children's Advocacy Center are tax deductible. All donations are used to provide direct services to child victims of abuse in Lake and Sumter Counties.

Stop by the Holiday Enchanted Forest Located at Victory Pointe in Downtown Clermont to view the CAC tree that was decorated on Saturday November 18, 2023.

Our tree includes very special ornaments decorated by our clients as part of their therapy process. The Forest will be open for viewing through January 8, 2024.

According to www.clermontfl.gov, "There are 50 trees decorated by local organizations and businesses setup to view at Victory Pointe. You can walk on the trail to view, or park at the Clermont Boat House and walk over to Victory Pointe. check out the trees in the day and nighttime to get the full effect!"

We were honored to participate in the 3rd Annual Walk for Freedom event on 10/14/23 at Lake-Sumter State College.

Hundreds of community members walked a one-mile route in support of ending human trafficking. After the walk, a Stop Human Trafficking panel was held and we were one of several anti-human trafficking organizations with information booths on-site.

Our CAC Staff participated in The Great Scarecrow Build-Off & Expo on Saturday, 10/7/23, in downtown Leesburg, sponsored by the Leesburg Partnership. All Scarecrows will be displayed in through the month of October. Visit the Lake Sumter Children's Advocacy Center Scarecrow at the corner of Main Street and Canal Street!

Our Child Protection Team had a great time at the National Night Out on 10/3/23, sponsored by the Leesburg Police Department, down at the beautiful Venetian Gardens. Thank you to all the members of the community who participated and visited our booth on Ski Beach!

Our Victim Advocate and Counseling departments participated in the Back to School Expo on 8/5/23 at the Minneola City Hall. We loved meeting the children and providing information, resources and school supplies!

We are a proud member of the Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers!

From their website:
"Accredited by the National Children's Alliance (NCA) as the State Chapter of Florida, the Florida Network of Children's Advocacy Centers (FNCAC) is a membership organization representing the 28 Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) of Florida. The NCA is the national association and accrediting body for a network of more than 850 Children's Advocacy Centers nationwide. "
"In addition to financial support, the FNCAC provides technical assistance, professional development, legislative advocacy, training, & education and prevention to its member CACs, their MDT partners, and the community."

Thank you to the Universal Orlando Foundation for their support in granting our Center an award of $10,000!

From their website: "The Universal Orlando Foundation is committed to making a difference in Central Florida. We believe in the power of education and in the magic of the arts. We believe in our community and the strength shown in partnership. We believe in doing the right thing and are dedicated to supporting local organizations that strive to make our area a better place to live. Since 1998, the Foundation has awarded and pledged nearly $30 million to organizations and programs that take a proactive approach to community needs in the areas of education, children and families, and basic needs."

Thank you to the Mount Dora Community Trust for awarding our Agency a grant for Community Law Enforcement Collaboration. We recognize the grant is made possible by the great generosity of the residents of Mount Dora.

From their website: "Established in 1972, the Mount Dora Community Trust is a tax-exempt charitable organization created to provide the local community with funding for public educational, charitable, or benevolent projects and purposes. Our mission is to provide outreach programs to schools, charities, and civic causes through the generous actions and financial support of Mount Dora residents and businesses committed to promoting the community's unity and prosperity."

Thank you so much to Bikers C.A.R.E. for including us in their 6th Annual Pinwheel run! Over 90 bikers participated in this awesome event to support child abuse prevention.

From their website:
"In April 2017, Pete (aka GuardDog) and Chris (aka Ninja) Meier, began Bikers C.A.R.E. "C.A.R.E." stands for "Child Abuse Response Effort", and describes their vision - that is, to do everything possible to end child abuse in ALL of its forms and to come to the aid of children and families victimized by abuse."

This month, Sumter County Fire & E.M.S. stations all over the county are displaying blue pinwheels to help spread our vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy and prepared to succeed.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month! Each year we re-double our efforts to keep children safe by raising awareness concerning the devastating impact of abuse to the minds, bodies and spirits of victimized children and teens. As a community, we can all be vigilant to protect our children.

Thank you Kids Central Inc Community Grant for your support!

From their website:
"At Kids Central, our mission of service, excellence, and caring is reflected in everything we do. We are dedicated to achieving measurable, positive outcomes for children and families in the Central Florida communities we serve. Please join us in creating brighter futures for children and families."