Chris Kirchner Receives The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidChamp Award
02 August 2019 - 12:00AM
Business Wire
Executive Director of Philadelphia Children’s
Alliance Honored for Outreach and Advocacy on Behalf of Sexually
Abused Children
The Rite Aid Foundation announced today that Chris
Kirchner, executive director of the Philadelphia Children’s
Alliance (PCA), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been awarded
its KidChamp Award. Ms. Kirchner was recognized for three decades
of advocacy and outreach to ensure healing and justice for sexually
abused children in Philadelphia. In recognition of her service, Ms.
Kirchner received a $10,000 donation to the Philadelphia Children’s
Alliance from The Rite Aid Foundation and a $500 Rite Aid gift card
during a special ceremony at Philadelphia Children’s Alliance.
PCA is Philadelphia’s only child advocacy center for sexually
abused children. The nonprofit organization brings together a team
of professionals to allow abused children to tell their stories
using a coordinated process in a safe and welcoming facility. When
a report of child sexual abuse is made in Philadelphia, PCA’s
intake team coordinates the investigation with a multi-disciplinary
team approach, working closely with representatives from the
Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit, the
Department of Human Services, and mental health and medical
professionals on behalf of the victim.
The Rite Aid Foundation created the KidChamp Award in 2017 to
recognize individuals in communities served by Rite Aid. Those who
are recognized, have made a meaningful difference in the lives of
youth by advocating for their health and wellbeing, championing
education and academic growth, while creating safe environments for
children and teens to live and grow. Ms. Kirchner is the sixth
recipient of the award.
“Chris is the embodiment of what it means to be a voice for the
voiceless. Child sexual abuse is a national crisis that changes
children’s lives forever. However, thanks to the work of Chris and
the PCA, these children can reclaim their lives and ensure that the
abuse doesn’t define who they are,” said Bryan Everett, chief
operating officer of Rite Aid Corporation and president of The Rite
Aid Foundation. “Not only has Chris worked to ensure that PCA
fulfills its mission, she has also championed to expand PCA’s
facility and provide care for more children than ever before,
ensuring justice and healing for the innocent.”
Three years after PCA opened in 1989, Ms. Kirchner took on the
role as the Alliance’s executive director. Initially, PCA was
housed in a 3,300 square foot space in West Philadelphia with only
one forensic interview room that allowed for only one child and
family to be seen at a time. Ms. Kirchner made it her mission to
advocate for a larger site and ensure PCA could serve every child
who has faced sexual abuse. In 2010, the facility moved to a larger
space in Center City that served 100 children a month.
In 2013, after seeing the incredible work Ms. Kirchner and PCA
had accomplished, the City of Philadelphia built the Philadelphia
Safety Collaborative to co-locate PCA and all partner agencies. The
state-of-the-art facility houses the Philadelphia Police
Department’s Special Victims Unit, the Philadelphia Department of
Human Services social workers, child abuse prosecutors and PCA
staff. This larger facility allows for 250 children to be served a
month. In 2018, PCA responded to 3,274 reports of child sexual
abuse, conducted 1,957 forensic interviews and ensured 1,264
children received counseling therapy.
“It is truly an honor to be presented with this KidChamp Award.
I am incredibly thankful to The Rite Aid Foundation and KidCents
for their support of PCA and our efforts to provide a safe space
where children can heal and begin to reclaim their lives,” said
Chris Kirchner, executive director, Philadelphia Children’s
Alliance. “Our work has helped change how we approach sexual abuse
cases for children. I’m so very proud of what we have accomplished
and promise to continue advocating to ensure these children
continue to get the support and care they deserve.”
As part of her role at PCA, Ms. Kirchner also oversees the
Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC), a federal
grant project that provides training and technical assistance to
communities in the northeastern United States that are interested
in developing or maintaining a Child Advocacy Center. In addition,
she and members of her management team lead trainings locally and
nationally about the topic of child sexual abuse, and the
importance of a collaborative response.
About The Rite Aid Foundation
Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded
more than $63 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally,
Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners
and associates, has also raised more than $92 million for
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since
1994.
About the KidCents Program
Through the KidCents program, which is The Rite Aid Foundation’s
charitable giving program dedicated to improving the health and
wellbeing of children living in the communities Rite Aid services,
members of Rite Aid's loyalty program, wellness+ rewards,
can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest
dollar and donate their change to KidCents. Members can also choose
to direct their change to a specific KidCents charity by visiting
www.kidcents.com. For more information, visit www.kidcents.com.
About Rite Aid Corporation
Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore
chains with 2,466 stores in 18 states and fiscal 2019 annual
revenue of $21.6 billion. At Rite Aid we have a personal interest
in our patient’s health and wellness and deliver the products and
services they need to lead healthier lives. Information about Rite
Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is
available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.
About Philadelphia Children’s Alliance
The Philadelphia Children’s Alliance is an independent
non-profit organization that promotes healing and justice for
sexually abused children in Philadelphia. Using a multidisciplinary
approach, we collaborate with our partners in child protection, law
enforcement, and medical and mental health services to provide
forensic interviews, victim support and counseling services at the
Philadelphia Safety Collaborative, a co-located child-friendly
facility. PCA is committed to using best practices and we promotes
this model locally and nationally.
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MEDIA: Rite Aid Chris Savarese 717-975-5718
Christopher.Savarese@riteaid.com
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