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The Chilton County Swedish Queens plant their pinwheels at Clanton Corner Park as part of Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center’s event on April 3. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Dozens of partners and supporters of BBCAC on 6th Street in downtown Clanton during the Sunshine Walk. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

District Judge Chris Speaks signs the proclamation to officially proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Chilton County. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The procession as it works its way down 6th Street in downtown to Clanton Corner Park. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

There were 125 pinwheels planted in Clanton Corner Park to represent the number of children BBCAC helped in 2024. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

BBCAC Executive Director Jana Zuelzke speaking to the crowd at the event on April 3. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The Chilton County Peach Queens led the Sunshine Walk procession to Clanton Corner Park with a banner in hand. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Rays of sunshine and hope for the future welcomed Child Abuse Prevention Month in Chilton County as Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center held their kickoff event on April 3. The nonprofit hosted a program on the front lawn of its Clanton office before the fourth annual Pinwheel Parade, branded this year as the ‘Sunshine Walk,’ went through downtown to Clanton Corner Park.

Guests, multi-disciplinary team members, staff and supporters gathered on the front lawn as BBCAC Executive Director Jana Zuelzke welcomed the crowd and spoke about why the month is so important for the nonprofit. Zuelzke provided statistics that showed one in four girls, and one in 13 boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18 in the United States.

Last year, BBCAC helped 125 children who experienced sexual or physical abuse. This year, 125 pinwheels were planted at Clanton Corner Park to represent all of those children.

“Every child deserves a safe and happy childhood,” Zuelzke said. “This event brings our community together to stand in solidarity with survivors and promote awareness about the importance of child abuse prevention.”

The queens of the county — Miss Strawberry Queen Grace Bingham, Miss Relay Queen Gracie Brewer, Miss Blackberry Queen Mary Jane Cole, Miss Peach Queen Lexie Deavers, Miss Chilton County Cresley Haggard and Miss Swedish Queen Maggy Harrelson read the proclamation to establish April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Chilton County. District Judge Chris Speaks signed the proclamation to officially proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Chilton County, his ninth year doing so.

The Sunshine Walk left the BBCAC office and went down the center of 6th Street to Clanton Corner Park with dozens of people with pinwheels in hand. Sunglasses were also handed out to represent a brighter future ahead for the children that nonprofit helps. The queens of the county led the procession to the park with a banner reading ‘Child Abuse Prevention Month.’

Throughout the month of April, Butterfly Bridge will be hosting various events and fundraisers as a part of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

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