#High5Drive scores $17K for North Star Child Advocacy Center

PARKERSBURG -- An April fund drive raised more than $17,000 for the North Star Child Advocacy Center in Wood County, officials said..

The #High5Drive Campaign that began April 1 through the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network raised $17,419 and is North Star's biggest fundraiser to date, North Star Executive Director Greg Collins said. The goal was $5,000, he said.

North Star was aided by Williamstown Bank and its branches in Lubeck and Parkersburg where 846 helping hands were sold at $5 a hand that contained messages of hope, Collins said.

"A lot of things came together for this campaign to be successful. The passion of Sharon Anderson and all the employees of Williamstown Bank, the support from our community that has become more aware of the details of our center and the graphic nature of its mission, and very generous donations by business partners of the bank and the friends of North Star," Collins said.

Of the 846 hands, 406 were sold at the East Seventh Street branch, he said.

"Our team at Williamstown Bank has completely bought into the mission of North Star and I am so proud of our team for their efforts to make this campaign so successful," Sharon Anderson, president and CEO of Williamstown Bank, said. "This campaign is key for financial support, but more importantly our team has helped raise awareness about the reality of child abuse in our local community and the services North Star provides to both law enforcement and CPS," she said.

The results show just what the community is capable of when working together and is a testament to the involvement of community banks on a local level, Anderson said.

"Williamstown Bank is grateful for the opportunity to partner with North Star CAC for the High5Drive," she said.

Support also came from the counties North Star serves, Collins said.

"We had corporate support from Simonton Windows in Ritchie County and Calhoun Banks in Calhoun and Wirt counties," he said. "We are Wood County-based, but we help (Child Protective Services), law enforcement and prosecutors in all the counties we officially serve by providing them with forensic interviews and services for their children and non-offending guardians."

Collins was appreciative of the campaign contributions. Last year was the first year of the drive and April is Child Abuse Awareness Monty.