Group seeks to break cycle of child abuse

IRONWOOD - The Gogebic County Children's Trust Fund held its annual spring banquet at Gogebic Community College Wednesday evening.

The group was established to help break the cycle of child abuse and neglect and periodically hands out awards to people and organizations in the community who help with that effort.

After the banquet dinner, a presentation titled "The Jigsaw Puzzle Child" was provided by Mark and Jane Bale, who are both active in the foster care community. They not only help recruit for future foster homes, but also provide retention to existing foster homes. According to Mark Bale, there are about 13,000 to 14,000 foster kids within the state of Michigan and 50 of those kids are located in Gogebic County.

The presentation compared factors such as appearance, emotions, experience, social skills and traditions of a 10-year-old child living in a safe home versus an unsafe home. Each factor was represented by a puzzle piece. Jane said it is important to remember each puzzle piece a child carries. After providing the breakdown of each child, they shared many examples of foster care life.

Following the presentation, Kitti Colassacco presented five awards. The first award was the Agency of the Year Award, which was given to the Western U.P. Health Department.

The other four awards were Community Role Model Awards, given to four local high school students, one from each of Gogebic County's high schools, who were recognized by their school's administration as community role models.

Colassacco said the Community Role Model Award is special because, "academic achievement and outstanding athletic ability are not required. Instead, this award focuses on quality of character and integrity."

The four high school honorees were Anna Wacker, from Bessemer's A.D. Johnston High School, the daughter of Alan Wacker and Dawn Hill; Cassandra Laessig, from Wakefield-Marenisco, the daughter of Jeff and Regina Laessig; Jesse Carroll, from Ironwood's Luther L. Wright High School, son of Wylie and Belinda Carroll; and Michael McGrath, of Watersmeet High School, son of Mark and Kathleen McGrath.

Colassacco said, "It remains increasingly difficult for young people to serve as role models themselves because, sadly, we live in a world that often-times does not reward healthy lifestyle choices and acting as a good citizen. ... Therefore, it is important for all of us to recognize and support parents, schools, community initiatives and organizations that promote the concept of being a good role model and citizen."

Each of the students will receive a $200 scholarship at their respective honors assembly.