Miss-Delectable
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Porterville Recorder
With deep doe eyes, manic gestures and a slight lisp, comedian Kathy Buckley told her story of abuse, pain and ultimately hope to an intimate group of survivors at Saturday's Celebrate the Child Within fundraiser.
The event, at the Westwood Equestrian Ranch, gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence the opportunity to relive their childhood, if only for a brief moment.
Buckley was the headliner for “Silent No More,” the theme of the fundraiser aimed at raising awareness toward the prevalence of sexual abuse that occurs to children who are deaf or hearing impaired.
“Anytime somebody helps a child grow by giving back that right to be a child, I want to be a part of it,” Buckley said about coming to the event. “It was very powerful, very moving.”
Buckley, who is hearing impaired, revealed poignant details of her life - sexual abuse by her father, five failed suicide attempts, a car accident and a bout with cancer, both which nearly killed her - while keeping the crowd of more than 100 people doubled over in laughter.
The 53-year-old comedian is like 9 out of 10 people in the hearing-impaired community, according to a 1994 study: She was a victim of sexual abuse.
Near tears, she talked about confronting her father about the abuse, and watching him go from denial to admission.
She made a choice to continue moving forward in life, leaning on God, Buckley said.
“I learned that only God is my father,” Buckley said. “And if you store up resentment and hate, you can never let him and his love in.”
Her harrowing story touched many in the audience, some of whom were also hearing-impaired and many of whom were also once victims sexual abuse.
Now they are survivors.
“I'm glad she came here to raise this awareness,” said Victoria Graves, a representative from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Inc. “I think that people aren't aware of the severity of the problem because of the shroud of silence. Women like Kathy help to lift that shroud.”
Many of the survivors were able to run and play in bounce houses and ride horseback like - and with - children on a picturesque Saturday afternoon.
More than 40 children came to the event, and Buckley concluded her oration by calling on survivors to continue to protect children like the ones present.
“Let's see to it that a child is never touched inappropriately again,” Buckley said.
The event has been known over the years to allow victims a chance to publicly reveal painful memories they would otherwise keep hidden, allowing them to celebrate the fact that they are survivors.
Keeping with the theme of advocating for the hearing-impaired community was the event's keynote speaker, Visalia Times-Delta Publisher Amy Pack.
Pack, who lost the hearing in her right ear in the late 1990s, told the audience her story of perseverance and ultimately triumph.
Another of the event's highlights was the presentation of the Ruthie D. Gail Excellence in Achievement Award. The award is given to a survivor of abuse who has gone on to achieve greatness.
Pedro Martinez, representing the city, presented the award to Family Services of Tulare County Program Manager Jennifer Boteilho.
Boteilho coordinates volunteer rape crisis volunteers for the Visalia-based non-profit agency.
At the age of 17, Boteilho said she was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance while four of her friends watched.
After her more than five-year recovery process, Boteilho found her calling as a crisis counselor, work she has enjoyed since 1998.
“I saw the ad for the job and it just spoke to me,” said Boteilho, who said there is a need for more counselors in Tulare County. “There is no place I'd rather be.”
With deep doe eyes, manic gestures and a slight lisp, comedian Kathy Buckley told her story of abuse, pain and ultimately hope to an intimate group of survivors at Saturday's Celebrate the Child Within fundraiser.
The event, at the Westwood Equestrian Ranch, gives survivors of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence the opportunity to relive their childhood, if only for a brief moment.
Buckley was the headliner for “Silent No More,” the theme of the fundraiser aimed at raising awareness toward the prevalence of sexual abuse that occurs to children who are deaf or hearing impaired.
“Anytime somebody helps a child grow by giving back that right to be a child, I want to be a part of it,” Buckley said about coming to the event. “It was very powerful, very moving.”
Buckley, who is hearing impaired, revealed poignant details of her life - sexual abuse by her father, five failed suicide attempts, a car accident and a bout with cancer, both which nearly killed her - while keeping the crowd of more than 100 people doubled over in laughter.
The 53-year-old comedian is like 9 out of 10 people in the hearing-impaired community, according to a 1994 study: She was a victim of sexual abuse.
Near tears, she talked about confronting her father about the abuse, and watching him go from denial to admission.
She made a choice to continue moving forward in life, leaning on God, Buckley said.
“I learned that only God is my father,” Buckley said. “And if you store up resentment and hate, you can never let him and his love in.”
Her harrowing story touched many in the audience, some of whom were also hearing-impaired and many of whom were also once victims sexual abuse.
Now they are survivors.
“I'm glad she came here to raise this awareness,” said Victoria Graves, a representative from Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center, Inc. “I think that people aren't aware of the severity of the problem because of the shroud of silence. Women like Kathy help to lift that shroud.”
Many of the survivors were able to run and play in bounce houses and ride horseback like - and with - children on a picturesque Saturday afternoon.
More than 40 children came to the event, and Buckley concluded her oration by calling on survivors to continue to protect children like the ones present.
“Let's see to it that a child is never touched inappropriately again,” Buckley said.
The event has been known over the years to allow victims a chance to publicly reveal painful memories they would otherwise keep hidden, allowing them to celebrate the fact that they are survivors.
Keeping with the theme of advocating for the hearing-impaired community was the event's keynote speaker, Visalia Times-Delta Publisher Amy Pack.
Pack, who lost the hearing in her right ear in the late 1990s, told the audience her story of perseverance and ultimately triumph.
Another of the event's highlights was the presentation of the Ruthie D. Gail Excellence in Achievement Award. The award is given to a survivor of abuse who has gone on to achieve greatness.
Pedro Martinez, representing the city, presented the award to Family Services of Tulare County Program Manager Jennifer Boteilho.
Boteilho coordinates volunteer rape crisis volunteers for the Visalia-based non-profit agency.
At the age of 17, Boteilho said she was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance while four of her friends watched.
After her more than five-year recovery process, Boteilho found her calling as a crisis counselor, work she has enjoyed since 1998.
“I saw the ad for the job and it just spoke to me,” said Boteilho, who said there is a need for more counselors in Tulare County. “There is no place I'd rather be.”