The CACFL Shines Bright for Children

The Child Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes hosted our Shine Bright for Children Gala December 8 at Ventosa Vineyards.

The event — our first in-person gala since the pandemic — was a huge success, raising more than $40,000 to support local child abuse survivors.

During the event, we honored two members of our Multi-Disciplinary Team with annual MDT (Motivated. Dedicated. Tenacious) Awards.

Aaliyah Beverly, former youth advocate with Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes, received the Community MDT Award for her dedication to advocating for children and their families.

Investigator Christopher Denny, of the Seneca Falls Police Department, received the Annual MDT Award for his working tirelessly to improve the lives of children in his hometown.

Both awards were presented by Executive Director Ashley Davoli and State Senator Pamela Helming.

Following that presentation, Helming presented the CACFL with the NYS Empire Award, recognizing our outstanding work and our support of child abuse survivors throughout our community. Davoli, and Jim Ritts, board chair, accepted the award.

The event was sponsored by the Glover-Crask Charitable Trust, the Canandaigua Police Department’s Gold Badge Club, the Bonafiglia Family Foundation, Red Jacket Orchards, UR Medicine Thompson Health and Wegmans, among others.