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Community members are invited to join the fight against child abuse by attending the Rotary Club of Davis\’ 11th annual Big Night fundraiser, “Have a Heart for Children.” The event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the El Macero Country Club, 44571 Clubhouse Drive.

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A reception and silent auction begin at 6 p.m. — with piano music by Bob Ringwald — followed by dinner at 7:15 p.m. and the grant awards to recipients at 8 p.m. A live auction and dancing will cap the evening.

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Davis Enterprise columnist Bob Dunning is the master of ceremonies.

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Big Night proceeds will support the Rotary Club\’s Child Abuse Prevention Program, which targets primary prevention of child abuse and focuses on public education and awareness.

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Tickets are $75 each; to RSVP, call (530) 753-3600, ext. 404.

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Last year, the club awarded $15,800 in grants to the Yolo Crisis Nursery/FamiliesFirst, Yolo County Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center, Warm Line and Ark Preschool. Rotary also provided $10,000 to support a part-time child abuse prevention coordinator for the Yolo County Children\’s Alliance.

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The club previously has purchased 1,000 “You Don\’t Have to Let Your Baby Cry” CDs for Sutter Davis and Woodland Memorial hospitals for distribution to new mothers, and shaken baby syndrome teaching dolls for the Yolo County Office of Education, American Red Cross and Head Start.

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Rotary\’s Child Abuse Prevention Program wasestablished in 2000 by former club president Bud Wolf. Its goal is public awareness, education and prevention, with the aim of ensuring that every child in Yolo County grows up in a safe, happy environment.

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Wolf has spread his mantra to other Rotary clubs within and outside the home district. In 2002, he staffed an information booth at the Rotary International Convention in San Antonio, Texas, and at the annual meeting of the Association of Academic Administrators of Pediatrics in Toronto, Canada.

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In 2004, he and other child abuse prevention advocates met with U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona and leading health policymakers in Washington, D.C.

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“While we continue to participate in our local programs, our primary goal of bringing the tragedy of child abuse to the attention of the public and the Rotary clubs around the world remains a major effort,” Wolf said.

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“Our premise is that if enough good people are informed of this tragedy, actions will be taken to reduce the incidence,” he said. “Every child who is spared the trauma of abuse is worth all of our efforts.”

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