Continuing our Specialty Plate Spotlight series, we’d like to present an initiative that is especially dear to our hearts here at eTags. Today’s featured organization is called Lauren’s Kids, and if you’ve had the chance to engage our services in the past, you may have noticed that we consistently offer the option to donate to this wonderful cause. When completing a transaction – at your checkout page – you have the opportunity to become a donor for Lauren’s Kids. If you missed that moment, if you’re curious why we champion this cause, or if you’d simply like to understand why we are highlighting this plate, we urge you to please read on!
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Lauren’s Kids is non-profit organization founded in 2007 by Lauren Book.
Born and raised in South Florida, Lauren was a victim of sexual abuse for six years at the hands of a trusted caretaker. As a survivor, and armed with the invaluable knowledge that ninety-five percent of sexual abuse is preventable, she established her foundation for the purposes of education, prevention, and treatment of this abuse.
The education outreach of Lauren’s Kids is aimed at informing adults and children about sexual abuse and prevention through in-school curriculums, resources for families, public campaigns, and speaking engagements all over the world. A recipient of both Emmy and Addy awards, the foundation’s Safer, Smarter Schools program – which teaches kids about personal safety – is currently in effect in classrooms across forty U.S. states.
In an effort to gain awareness for the organization, Lauren led the annual “Walk in my Shoes” walk, which, for nearly ten years, hosted a 1,500-mile trek from Key West to Tallahassee.
Since 2018, another enterprise has been implemented, this time in the state capital. The 42 for 42 walk is now in the Capital’s rotunda, and lasts forty-two hours straight to honor the 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse in the U.S. each year.
A bold endeavor, with an unending goal, the Lauren’s Kids foundation provides over 10 million education and awareness materials throughout the entire country each year. In addition, the organization has been instrumental in advocating the passing of nearly two dozen laws both supporting survivors and protecting children from predators.
Lauren’s Kids aims to eradicate and prevent sexual abuse through the tools of education and awareness, as well as aid in the healing of survivors by providing guidance and support.
Now, here at eTags, we don’t play favorites, but if we had to throw our hat in someone’s ring, it would be Lauren’s Kids. We are continually astounded by the diligence and dedication of Lauren and her fearless team. This, of course, is with good reason. With staggering statistics, it’s easy to understand the foundation’s commitment to their cause. According to recent research, the facts are as follows:
- 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will become a victim of childhood sexual abuse before the age of eighteen.
- 1 in 5 children who comes in contact with a computer will be sexually solicited online.
- Childhood sexual abuse happens at every socioeconomic level, regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion, or education.
- The idiom of “stranger danger” is usually untrue: 90% of child sexual abuse occurs at the hands of someone the child knows, loves, and trusts.
Fortunately, there are other statistics that lighten up the weight of the above points:
- 95% of child sexual abuse is preventable through education and awareness.
- Victims of child sexual abuse can heal into thriving survivors through guidance and support.
So, while the numbers may seem grim, there is hope for improvement, and Lauren’s Kids is here to foster that possibility and see it come to fruition. With many, many resources available within the organization, anyone curious to understand more or reach out for help can do so at laurenskids.org. Lauren herself has written two books on the subject of child sexual abuse and has received accolades and awards for her thirty-minute television specials and Public Service Announcements.
A steadfast advocate for change, Lauren has also been featured on hundreds of news outlets speaking on the subjects of awareness, victimhood and surviving as well as commenting on any recent developments in related legislation. These media sources include: NPR, ABC, CNN, BBC, FOX, Huffington Post, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
Now, it would be easy to just ask for support here. We’d barely have to convince any reader of the validity and importance of Lauren’s Kids. We think it’s pretty clear. But here’s the beauty of our partnership with the foundation: you can easily, seamlessly support the organization by upgrading your current license plate.
By affixing the Lauren’s Kids tag to your vehicle, you are not only spreading awareness of the issues at hand, but you are demonstrating support and love to the victims and survivors, as well as helping fund the education and outreach being fostered by the group.
Each Specialty Plate purchased through eTags immediately generates a donation to the specific cause, leaving you to make little effort, save for clicking a few buttons during your registration process. We couldn’t make it easier if we tried! (Okay, maybe one day we will be able to read your mind and you won’t even have to click…but until then…)
For your absolute convenience, you can upgrade to a Lauren’s Kids plate at three different points in your vehicle ownership:
- When your registration is up for renewal
- If you are registering your vehicle for the first time
- At any moment you feel the inclination to demonstrate your support!
Simply head over to our home page when you are ready to renew or when you the moment hits you. The process is quick, easy, and will help champion a cause in which we truly believe. And if at any point you need assistance, remember that we’ve got folks ready to help you through the steps at any time during usual business hours. As always, we’re here to help!
