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Grandparents Rally in Washington on September 14
Celebrating role in protecting children who need
parenting
Sept. 9, 2005 - On September 14, hundreds of
grandparents, relatives and children from across the nation will be
joined by members of Congress, advocates, and others in rally on the
lawn of the U.S. Capitol celebrating the “essential role” that these
caregivers play in providing safe, permanent families for vulnerable
children, and the unique challenges they face in fulfilling this duty,
according to a news release from the rally sponsors.
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The gathering is part of the The Wednesdays in
Washington created by the Children’s Defense Fund. The GrandRally is an
important opportunity to educate Members of Congress and their staff
about the supports and services these families need. The GrandRally also
recognizes and celebrates the essential role that relative caregivers
play in keeping children safe and in stable families, according to CDF.
In the United States, more than six million
children live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives.
Many of these grandparents and other relatives step forward to assume
the responsibility for raising children when their parents are no longer
able to do so. These individuals perform the heroic task of both keeping
their families together and keeping these children out of foster care,
according to the organizers.
The rally will be from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
Wednesday, September 14, on the West Lawn, United States Capitol
Building, Washington, D.C. 20150
The grandparents and other relatives will then meet
with their own Senators and Representatives to share facts about
children being raised by relative caregivers and the help they need. A
reception will follow the visits.
For more information about the GrandRally and to
register, call the Children’s Defense Fund at 202-662-3656 or log on to
the GrandRally website at
www.grandrally.org. The Wednesdays in Washington GrandRally is
co-sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund, AARP, Child Welfare League
of America, Generations United, and the National Committee of
Grandparents for Children’s Rights.
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2003 Rally
In 2003, more than 850 caregivers and supporters
from 28 states and the District of Columbia attended. The
National Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights, were
represented by Lola Bailey and Brigette Castellano. |
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Speakers include:
-- LOLA BAILEY and BRIGITTE CASTELLANO: President
of the Board, and Executive Director,
National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights
-- SHAY BILCHIK: president and CEO,
Child Welfare League of America
-- DONNA BUTTS: executive director,
Generations United
-- LEE HAMMOND: board member,
AARP
-- MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN: founder and CEO,
Children's Defense Fund
In addition to the participants listed above,
grandparents and other relative caregivers, children being raised by
these caregivers, and members of Congress have been invited to speak.
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2005 GrandRally Schedule |
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Tuesday, September 13th |
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9:00 to 3:00 p.m.
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Generations United
Pre-conference Intensive on Grandparents and Other Relatives
Raising Children (GU conference activity. For more
information, please visit
www.gu.org) |
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2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
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Board Meeting, National
Committee of Grandparents for Children’s Rights |
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3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
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GrandRally Advocacy Training
at the Washington Marriott Hotel (Registration forms for the
training are in the GrandRally registration packet) |
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7:00 to 11:00 p.m.
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GrandRally Celebration
Dinner at the Holiday Inn on the Hill |
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Wednesday, September 14th
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8:30 to 10:30 a.m
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GrandRally Advocacy Training
at the AARP Headquarters (601 E Street NW, Washington, DC) |
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11:00 to Noon |
Generations United Hill Day
Forum at the Hall of States ( 444 North Capitol Street NW,
Suite 283) (GU conference activity. For more information,
please visit
www.gu.org) |
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Noon |
Begin to gather at the U.S.
Capitol for the GrandRally |
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1:00 p.m. |
GrandRally on the West
Grassy Front of the U.S. Capitol |
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2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
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Visits with Members of
Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) |
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3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
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Reception and Debrief about
Hill Visits (Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-50) |
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