Child Abuse Prevention Foundation/Polinsky Children's Center Foundation

As with any vital mission, there must be vision. To find the solution, there must be money.

To meet the urgent needs of the abused, abandoned and neglected children in San Diego, a group of concerned citizens joined together in 1981 to begin raising the $12 million to build and endow the A.B. and Jessie Polinsky Children's Center. By 1994, sufficient funds had been raised to open the now internationally known and respected Polinky Children's Center.

CAPF also collaborates with community organizations to create and enhance child abuse prevention programs. The Foundation continues to raise funds, collect in-kind items and establish new and innovative programs at the Center.

The costs associated with all forms of child abuse are staggering.

Child abuse and child neglect statistics are frightening everywhere, even in beautiful San Diego. The Child Abuse Hotline receives more than 80,000 calls each year. Children are referred to authorities for the following reasons:

Severe and General Neglect 30%
Physical Abuse 28%
Emotional Abuse 18%
Sexual Abuse 16%
Caretaker Absent or Incapacitated 8%
Exploitations (pornography, prostitution)1%

The Child Abuse Prevention Foundation and The Polinsky Children's Center Foundation's directors, staff and scores of volunteers are commended for their foresight, dedication, commitment, and follow through.