Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano announces that Lauren’s Kids was the tax collector’s featured charitable organization for the month of April. Lauren’s Kids is an organization that works with local school districts to prevent childhood sexual abuse through education and awareness. Additionally, Lauren’s Kids helps heal survivors with guidance and support. Lauren’s Kids was started in 2007 by Lauren Book, now a state senator and herself a victim of years of childhood sexual abuse by a trusted caregiver. Senator Lauren Book has taken her own experiences and turned them into an opportunity to help children find hope and healing.
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office collected donations and promoted the Lauren’s Kids specialty license plate and charitable check-off during the month of April. In addition to the funds raised, there are now 30 new Lauren’s Kids specialty tags on the roads of Pasco County.
“Lauren’s Kids thanks Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and his entire team for their continued efforts to prevent child sexual abuse and help survivors heal,” comments Senator Lauren Book, the founder of Lauren’s Kids. “Every dollar makes a difference and helps fund vital prevention, education, and awareness programs to protect childhood. One in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will become a victim of sexual abuse before turning 18. 1 in 5 children who touch a digital device will be sexually solicited online – but armed with the knowledge that 95% of this abuse IS preventable with education and awareness, the Pasco Tax Collectors Office is creating change for children in West Florida.”
“On behalf of the entire staff of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office we thank the members of our very generous community for supporting this life-changing program,” Tax Collector Mike Fasano comments. “Senator Book’s personal experiences drove her desire to create a non-profit organization that has and will continue to help untold numbers of children, parents and teachers learn about and prevent childhood sexual abuse. It has been an honor for the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office to once again team with Lauren’s Kids to train a new generation of children about this crime and how they may find help and healing if they do become victims of it. Thank you to everyone who donated and/ or purchased a specialty tag to advance the efforts of Lauren’s Kids. We may never know the entirety of the impact your generosity has made in the lives of our must vulnerable, but there is no doubt it is great.”
If anyone is interested in learning more about the charitable giving program at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, please contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847- 8179. For more information about Lauren’s Kids please visit www.LaurensKids.org
Please visit www.pascotaxes.com for additional information about all services provided by the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, including addresses, phone numbers and other information that may be helpful.
Photo caption: ceremonial check presentation by Tax Collector Mike Fasano and staff