By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center received a welcome Christmas present in the form of an Alabama Power Foundation grant for $10,000.

Van Forrester of Alabama Power presented the check on Dec. 18.

“We are thrilled and honored to receive this donation,” director Jana Zuelzke said.

Zuelzke said the organization had applied for the grant in July.

“One of the main aspects that we are really trying to develop more is our educate initiative, which is more child abuse prevention in the community,” Zuelzke said.

The grant funds will make this possible.

“We are going to do a lot of education in the community,” Zuelzke said, commenting that this will include expanding their educational offerings to professionals who work with children and creating opportunities for parents and other community members.

These opportunities will focus on making people aware of signs of abuse, how to report it and how to help.

“We just know that overall this is going to make a big impact on protecting the children that are in Chilton County,” Zuelzke said

Butterfly Bridge plans to use the Darkness to Light curriculum.

Forrester said the Alabama Power Foundation was established when shareholders set aside funds for community grants.

“Alabama Power has always been very involved in the community — to be a part of a company that gives back that way is something really special,” Forrester said.

He said is was extra special to be a part of helping an organization that serves a great need in the community the way Butterfly Bridge does.

The Alabama Power Foundation funds different categories of grant. The grant awarded to Butterfly bridge is a part of the Power of Good grant program. Applications are reviewed and determinations are made based on need and what will have the largest impact for the most people.

This is the second time that Butterfly Bridge has received a grant from Alabama Power.

Butterfly Bridge serves children who have been victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse and those who have witnessed a violent crime through forensic interviews, counseling, family advocacy and other family support services as their cases moves through the legal system.