The signature event was held at The Charles Mack Citizen Center in downtown Mooresville with guest of honor, Mark Lunsford, offering a testimonial about the important role that children’s advocacy centers such as Dove House plays in communities across the country, by protecting sexually abused children and their non-offending family members. Lunsford was instrumental in the creation of “Jessica’s Law” after the high profile case of his 9-year-old daughter, Jessica, who was kidnapped from her Florida home in 2005, sexually assaulted and murdered. Forty-four states now enforce “Jessica’s Law,” under which a first-time child sex offender receives a minimum 25-year prison sentence.

“Because of the generous support of the community, the funds raised at this event help provide a portion of the needed funding for Dove House and will allow us to provide vital services to over 200 child victims of sexual assault and the nearly 500 non-offending family members that we will serve in 2011,” said Dove House Executive Director Ken Wooten.

Larry Sprinkle, meteorologist for WCNC-Channel 36, returned as the celebrity auctioneer.“Restaurant Row” featured 17 local restaurants, providing an array of culinary delights for guests to enjoy. The crowd of more than 450 also participated in silent and live auctions.

Dove house Children’s Advocacy Center, based in Statesville, serves to minimize trauma to child victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members by providing a centralized, safe and child-friendly environment from which investigative and intervention activities are conducted. Since opening in 2002, Dove House has provided services to more than 5,700 primary and secondary victims.