Mount Nittany Health is pleased to announce that Arize Federal Credit Union has donated $1,000 in support of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Centre County (CAC). Representatives from Arize Federal Credit Union presented the donation during a brief ceremony on Wednesday, January 11, 2022.

The donation will support the operations of Mount Nittany Heath Children’s Advocacy Center, which provides a safe and comfortable place to serve children who may have been victims of abuse or witnesses of other crimes. The Center has specially trained interviewers and support staff to handle these difficult and very sensitive cases. Last year, nearly 300 children were referred to the CAC.

Diana McWilliams, Executive Director, Children’s Advocacy Center of Centre County, accepted the check from Michael Meier, President and CEO of Arize Federal Credit Union. Christa Hosterman, Marketing Manager and Mary Potter, Marketing Specialist from Arize Federal Credit Union also attended the presentation.

“We are incredibly grateful for Arize Federal Credit Union’s commitment to children in the Centre region. The generosity of the community is vital to our work,” said McWilliams.

In situations when child protective services or law enforcement have concerns that a child may be a victim or witness to a crime, they are referred to the CAC. Specially trained Mount Nittany Health pediatricians examine the child in a safe manner to collect important evidence and reassure the child their body is okay. Then, staff members work to give the child the best opportunity to heal from the trauma. They provide the child and their family with services they may need such as case tracking, expert witness testimony, and advocacy throughout the legal process.

“We’re pleased to be in a position to offer financial support to this vital organization that helps so many children in the community,” said Arize Marketing Manager Christa Hosterman.

Founded in 2014, the CAC is one of 40 Pennsylvania Children’s Advocacy Centers and currently serves four counties. Since its inception, the Center has assisted over 2,700 children. The organization is a nonprofit and offers its services to victims and their families at no charge. No child is denied services.

If you know or suspect a child is experiencing abuse, please call Pennsylvania’s toll-free, 24-hour reporting ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 immediately, or contact your local police department. You do not need proof of abuse to make a report.

For more information about the Mount Nittany Health Children’s Advocacy Center, visit mountnittany.org/childadvocacycenter.