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(ARA) - Many Americans
gladly donate time and money to their favorite causes. But not many take
the steps -- literally -- that Mike Kanarick and his wife Liz Kleinberg
have to increase public awareness about abused and neglected children and
raise money to support the work of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).
The Alabama couple began
hiking the Appalachian Trail on March 24, 2003, setting off from Amicalola
Falls in Georgia. They expect to reach the other end of the 2,000-mile
trail, Mt. Katahdin in Maine, in October. With each step, the couple
demonstrates their commitment to our most vulnerable children. With each
mile, they raise funding through individual sponsorships; commitments
range from a few cents a mile to a dollar per mile.
Kanarick is a former
assistant U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama and press
secretary for former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman; when his candidate
lost the election last November, Kanarick decided to hit the trail for
CWLA. Kleinberg is an attorney who worked for the Hon. Ed Carnes, United
States Circuit Court Judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in
Montgomery, Ala. During their months on the trail, these champions for
children have faced hardships including heat, cold, rain, snakes and
bears, not to mention constant togetherness -- the one “hardship” they
have come to treasure!
Siegelman was the first
to donate to the couple’s cause. He noted in his public
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was proud and delighted that Mike and Liz had decided to lend a hand to
children as part of their adventure.
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More importantly, he challenged all
of us to action by noting that their commitment showed how every one of
us, whether a public official or a private citizen, can make a difference
in the lives of children.
Siegelman is right! Mike
and Liz’s determination and dedication is an example for all to follow.
Indeed, we need more champions for children at all levels. As a nation, we
are faced with nearly three million reports of child abuse and neglect
each year. Many experts believe this number is only the tip of the iceberg
and there are many more children in need. Children deserve advocates in
their communities who are willing to step forward with an individual
commitment to make a difference in children’s lives.
Kanarick and Kleinberg
reached the unofficial halfway mark in Harpers Ferry, W. Va. over the 4th
of July weekend. They were greeted by cheering kids from a West Virginia
foster care program. Mike told me that while on the trail there were times
that it was not easy to summon the energy needed to keep going. As I
watched him scan the group of children who had gathered to celebrate their
journey, he quickly added that seeing the kids’ appreciation made all
the little hardships they have gone through disappear and helped to renew
the commitment he and Liz had made to make it to Maine.
At a time when this
country is so focused on our security and our economic future, it is
reaffirming to know that Mike and Liz are willing to remind us that
perhaps our highest priority needs to remain the safety and security of
our children. I look forward to greeting them in Maine in October as they
start the hike to the summit of Mt. Katahdin.
Kanarick and Kleinberg
have raised about $40,000 so far for CWLA. For more information, log onto
www.cwla.org. You can make a donation, find out more about the couple and
follow their journey through their online journal.
Courtesy of ARA
Content
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the country’s oldest
and largest membership-based child welfare organization. Established
in 1920, CWLA strives to advance sound public policy on behalf of
the more than 3 million abused, neglected and vulnerable children
served by its more than 1,100 member agencies. CWLA’s mission is
to preserve, protect and promote the well-being of all children and
families.
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