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CommU.N.I.T.Y. Fair celebrates families

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INDIANAPOLIS –Expect lots of fun, freebies, and community resource information on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at an event hosted by the Marion Superior Court, Marion County Detention Center, and Child Advocates. They’re joining forces to host the first annual CommU.N.I.T.Y Fair (Uniting Neighbors and Informing Today’s Youth), a daylong family-friendly event from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine, at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center parking lot, 2451 North Keystone Avenue (Indianapolis).

About 4,500 free backpacks will be given to children and are not income-based. The fair will include a Silly Safari animal show, DJ, carnival games and prizes, raffle prizes, face painting, bounce houses, National Guard climbing wall, demonstrations by police, fire and ambulance and much more. Area nonprofits will also have information booths for families to access community resources.

Sponsors include the Marion Superior Court, Marion County Juvenile Detention Center, Child Advocates, Peyton Manning’s Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent, Office Depot Foundation, PeyBack Foundation, Silly Safari, Aramark and Wishard Hospital.

Child Advocates previously hosted an annual “Kid’s Fair” and partnered with Juvenile Court and Detention last August for a highly successful backpack giveaway. “It made sense to combine our resources this year for one event that celebrates children and raises awareness of what we do and the work of juvenile detention,” said Cindy Booth, Executive Director, Child Advocates, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) whose volunteers and staff work with the Marion Superior Court to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children.

“Why a community fair? Juvenile Detention plays an important role in our community as we try to influence young people to make good choices,” said DeShane Reed, Superintendent of Juvenile Detention. “We’re committed that every child who passes through our facility is influenced in a positive way for whatever length of time they are in our care. Child Advocates works toward the same goal of doing what is best for children. An important part of the fair will be the information booths from area nonprofits where parents can learn about a variety of local resources available to assist families,” he added.

Both Juvenile Detention and Child Advocates have well-established volunteer programs and are in need of more mentors and CASA Volunteers. To volunteer at the detention center contact Tonya Hill at trhill@indygov.org or for more information on how to become a CASA volunteer contact LaDonna Wattley at ladonna@childadvocates.net.

For more information on the CommU.N.I.T.Y. Fair contact Tonya Hill at (317) 327-8495.

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