December’s Message from our President and CEO

As 2024 comes to a close, I am filled with gratitude for each of you and the incredible impact your generosity has made this year. Together, we’ve taken meaningful steps to ensure that children and families across the nation can grow and thrive in safe, supportive environments.

This year’s Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month was a powerful reminder of the importance of prevention, and we were thrilled to have WNBA Legend Candace Parker as a national partner. Her advocacy amplified our mission, helping us raise awareness and inspire action to prevent abuse and neglect before it happens.

Your support also helped us expand our reach in exciting ways. We added two new chapters—Prevent Child Abuse New Mexico and Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii—and celebrated the rechartering of nine others, ensuring we can deliver trusted, evidence-based programs in even more communities. Additionally, we welcomed new Healthy Families America (HFA) sites, allowing us to serve thousands more children and families with home visiting services that build parental resilience and foster long-term stability.

Looking ahead, our Policy Priorities position us to work with the new administration to secure bipartisan support for programs that make prevention possible nationwide. With these priorities, we’re advocating for stronger investments in communities, ensuring every child and family has the resources they need to thrive.

This Giving Tuesday, your outpouring of generosity demonstrated the power of collective action. Every dollar you’ve given this year has brought us closer to a future where children grow up in safe, nurturing environments. As part of our End-of-Year campaign, themed “Your Gift, Their Future,” your contributions will continue to create lasting change for children and families. If you haven’t already, please consider making a gift today.

To everyone who supported PCA America in 2024—through donations, advocacy, or simply by sharing our mission—thank you. Your commitment fuels our work and makes this progress possible.

As we step into 2025, let’s carry this spirit of hope forward. Together, we can prevent child abuse and neglect before it happens and build brighter futures for every child.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Dr. Melissa Merrick
President and CEO, PCA America