After more than 25 years of providing safety, justice, and healing to children in Rutherford and Cannon Counties, the board of the Child Advocacy Center has launched a $3.1 million campaign to create a permanent home that is welcoming and child-friendly, and that has the space necessary to ensure confidentiality for those whom they serve. The organization also needs adequate space for the CAC’s staff and the members of the Child Protective Investigative Team to work.
Since its founding, the CAC has served more than 50,000 people, including 21,000 children. This number also includes approximately 16,500 teachers and other adults who have received specialized training to identify child sexual and physical abuse.
Because the CAC is a proven model of success for handling child sexual and physical abuse cases, the State of Tennessee mandates that every judicial district have a child advocacy center; however, the State does not provide funding for these facilities.


Bill Whitesell and Kristin Demos are chairing the campaign. With assistance from the board and other volunteers, they have raised $2.7 million to date. Bill served as the District Attorney for Rutherford County for 34 years and helped found the Child Advocacy Center. Kristin and her husband own Demos Restaurants, and she has been a longtime supporter of the CAC.
The CAC recently purchased 503 Highland Terrace, the building where the organization has rented space for the past several years.
“We are extremely grateful to Dr. Jim Garner, the owner of the building, for working with us and making it possible for us to buy the building. It’s ideal for the CAC.”

More than 50 donors have contributed to date. “The center is a place where these most vulnerable members of our society can begin their healing journey,” Demos said. “The community needs to give them a permanent and adequate space to call their own. Says Kristin, “The tagline for the campaign is ‘Our Children, Our Watch’ because everyone in the community has a responsibility to help keep children safe.”
CAC Campaign Update Release (docx)
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