CASTLE and Seacoast National Bank to Present the "Memory Field"

Horrific 20% Increase in Child Abuse Related Deaths Could have Been Prevented

198 children in Florida lost their lives last year as a result of child abuse. The most common triggers remain crying due to toilet training and feeding issues. This was a shocking 20% increase in the number of deaths in one year. Nearly 90% of them could have been prevented.

CASTLE is a non-profit organization that works to prevent child abuse and to help adults become loving, caring, nurturing parents. For the third consecutive year, CASTLE and Seacoast National Bank are hosting a traveling memory field to honor those children who have been silenced by abuse and to raise awareness to CASTLE’s prevention services.

The public is invited to attend any one of five dedication ceremonies in the CASTLE service communities. A field of 198 white flags with a blue ribbon imprint will fly for one week in each county. Each flag represents a child who died in one year as a direct result of child abuse and neglect.

The memory field will begin its journey to build awareness of this horrific truth beginning in mid February and will close at the end of April on the grounds of CASTLE’s main office facility in Fort Pierce. We ask the public and the media to join us and witness first hand the power of prevention. We invite you to walk through the field of flags and read the names of the children. It is a life changing experience that will leave a permanent imprint in people’s hearts.

CASTLE is inviting the public to sponsor a child’s flag with a $100 donation or a ribbon for $10. The sponsor’s name will be displayed in the field throughout the rotation. Sponsorships may be purchased at CASTLE or at any Seacoast National Bank office in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River or Okeechobee counties.

Corporate sponsors are needed to bring this display to the community. For information on supporting the Memory Field visit: www.castletc.org.