FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 22, 2012

Contact: Angie Eichelberger, Executive Assistant

717.940.8998

aeichelberger@co.lancaster.pa.us

To see the 2012 Winners, please here

LANCASTER COUNTY (June 22, 2012) –Tonight, at a ceremony held at the Millersville University Lancaster campus, the Lancaster County C.A.S.E. Task Force recognized 59 young artists who submitted artwork for the 2012 Poster Contest – “I am SMART – BOLD – STRONG! I am the FUTURE!” – and announced the contest winners. 

“We are very impressed with the thought and design that the children put into these posters,” stated Commissioner Scott Martin, Co-Chairman of Lancaster County C.A.S.E. “Each artist should be extremely proud of the work they’ve done as we are of them.”

The Lancaster County Campaign Against Sexual Exploitation of Children (C.A.S.E.) Task Force, an initiative of the Lancaster County Commissioners’ Office and Chaired by Commissioner Scott Martin, operates with the mission of engaging the community in protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse and empowering all persons to speak out against offenders. 

As a part of their public awareness campaign, Lancaster County C.A.S.E. hosted their 2^nd annual poster contest with the intent of providing an avenue for parents and teachers to speak with children about being safe and to empower children through awareness and artistic expression.

A pinwheel, which the Lancaster County C.A.S.E. Task Force adopted as their symbol and is also seen as a universal symbol for childhood, can be found in each artist’s poster. 

Lancaster County C.A.S.E. received 59 posters from students in grades 6-12.  All the children and their parents/caregivers were invited to attend a reception, held in their honor, and were acknowledged with a certificate from the Task Force.   Prizes were awarded to artists of the winning posters in each age group. 

“We want to say a special ‘Thank You’ to our panel of judges, Pennsylvania State Senator Lloyd Smucker, 13 Senatorial District, Lisa Madenspacher, a local artist, and Carrie Johnson,  Executive Director of Girls on the Run, who graciously took on the difficult task of selecting the winning posters,” stated Commissioner Martin.  “As local artists and community leaders in their fields we were honored to have them as judges and greatly appreciate the time and thought they put into making their selections.”

“We also want to extend our appreciation to our prize donors, Lancaster General Health, Pottery Works and Auntie Anne’s and we would also like to extend our appreciation to Millersville University for hosting the reception.”

“Lancaster County C.A.S.E. is a ‘community’ awareness campaign and to be truly successful it will take the involvement of the entire Lancaster County community,” provided Commissioner Martin.  “We are encouraged by the support we’ve received so far with participation, donations, involvement.  This contest is a fantastic example of community collaboration from the student artists and the teachers who made the contest available, to volunteer judges, prize donors and event hosts.”

For more information about Lancaster County C.A.S.E. please visit www.LancasterCountyCASE.org or call 717/295-2058.

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