By Marilyn Miller
The Gingerbread House, a children’s advocacy center serving the Ark-La-Tex, hosted its largest annual fund-raiser, the “Partners in Prevention 2024 Luncheon” on Wednesday, Oct. 30 in downtown Shreveport.
More than 800 supporters of the non-profit organization packed into the Sam’s Town Ballroom for “a conversation” with Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Tebow; the screening of “Through the Eyes of a Brave Survivor…Izzy’s Story,” a video filmed in partnership with KTAL NBC 6; and to hear sketches from the year presented by GH CEO Jessica Milan Miller and members of her staff.
The Gingerbread House was founded in 1998. It works collaboratively with law enforcement, child protective services, the district attorneys’ offices, and medical and mental health professionals to investigate, prosecute and treat cases of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, child sex trafficking and other violent crimes. It is an accredited Children’s Advocacy Center with National Children’s Alliance.
“The mission of the Gingerbread House is to lessen the trauma experienced by child abuse victims, child witnesses, and protected persons as allegations are investigated and to provide support for victims and witnesses throughout the investigation, prosecution, and treatment phases of cases,” Miller explained.
Guest speaker Demi Tebow’s presentation took the form of a “conversation” with Waynette Ballengee, president of the GH Board of Directors and Jacque Jovic, news anchor for KTAL. She addressed her new book, “A Crown That Lasts: You Are Not Your Label,” her marriage to football great and Christianity advocate Tim Tebow, her near car-jacking experience which led her to establish the “Unbreakable Campaign,” and her experiences as Miss Universe.
“No matter the labels this world has placed on you, you are not defined by those words,” Tebow told the crowd. “You are not defined by those actions. You are not defined by those trials, by those messes in your life, by the pain you have been through…”
Demi and Tim are co-founders of the Tim Tebow Foundation, which exists to bring “faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need,” she said. “We strive to fight for the Most Vulnerable People (MVP) in the world through our work in four main areas of focus – Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation, Orphan Care and Prevention, Profound Medical Needs, and Special Needs Ministry.”
A native of South Africa, Demi resides in the United States with her husband, Tim Tebow, and their three fur babies, Chunk, Paris, and Kobe (aka The Tebow Pack).
One of the greatest ways for someone to help the Gingerbread House is to make a financial donation of any amount. “All services are offered free of charge to child victims’ families so that no child is ever turned away due to a family’s inability to pay for critically needed services,” Miller remarked.
For more information on the Gingerbread House CAC, contact them at 1700 Buckner Square, Suite 101, Shreveport LA 71101; 318-674-2900; info@gingerbreadhousecac.org, www.gingerbreadhousecac.org, or Facebook at GingerbreadhouseCAC.