Eastern is first business in New England to offer child sexual abuse prevention training to employees
BOSTON – October 18, 2018 –In a first in the Boston business community, Eastern Bank teamed with its newest Partner for Good, Aly Raisman, to spark a conversation about child sexual abuse and the importance of adults to help break the silence around it, and to call on local business leaders to get involved through employee education and funding. Raisman shared details of her partnership with Darkness to Light, the nation’s leading nonprofit advocating for adults to help prevent and destigmatize child sexual abuse, and her Flip the Switch campaign. The Flip the Switch initiative encourages all adults involved with youth sports to complete Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® training, which is widely recognized as the leading, evidence-informed child sexual abuse prevention program in the country and has taught more than 1.7 million adults how to recognize, prevent and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Eastern Bank announced it will make this prevention training available to its employees, a first in the New England business community.
“Speaking up about child sexual abuse requires tremendous courage and when we have more brave voices speaking up, we can start to effect change and one day reach a point when it is the norm to get involved,” said Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank. “As the first business in New England to implement Darkness to Light’s prevention trainings, it is my hope that we can reduce the stigma around this topic and support Aly in her mission to help educate all adults so they are informed, understand the warning signs, and know how to take action when a situation arises.”
“Beyond bankers and community advocates, Eastern employees are parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, coaches, and mentors,” said Katelyn Brewer, CEO of Darkness to Light. “Education is at the heart of Aly’s Flip the Switch campaign, and through our Stewards of Children® prevention training, Eastern’s employees and other adults will learn how they can help prevent child sexual abuse. It’s inspiring to see a business take a stand on an issue so many prefer to leave out of the workplace.”
As part of its commitment to supporting Aly, Eastern is donating $25,000 to Darkness to Light, which will be used to support the “Flip the Switch” campaign and a comprehensive program to help young athletes everywhere participate in a safe and abuse-free environment. The donation came at the culmination of a panel discussion moderated by Boston Globe interim editorial page editor Shirley Leung, where attendees heard from Raisman, Rivers and Brewer about ways individuals, community organizations and businesses can support this issue.
“The fight against child sexual abuse takes everyone’s support. I’m proud to stand with Eastern Bank and Darkness to Light as we take proactive stances on protecting children and educating adults,” said Aly Raisman.
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Aly Raisman shares details of her “Flip the Switch” campaign and partnership with Darkness to Light at an event in Boston on October 16, 2018. |
Bob Rivers, Aly Raisman, Katelyn Brewer and Shirley Leung discuss child sexual abuse and prevention training during an event at Eastern Bank headquarters in Boston on October 16, 2018. |
Katelyn Brewer, CEO of Darkness to Light, addresses a crowd at Eastern Bank headquarters in Boston on October 16, 2018. |
About Eastern Bank
Founded in 1818 and celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2018, Boston-based Eastern Bank is America’s oldest and largest mutual bank, with $11 billion in assets and over 120 locations serving communities in eastern Massachusetts, southern and coastal New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Eastern provides exceptional access to fairly priced banking, investment and insurance products and services for consumers and businesses of all sizes. Eastern Bank, which includes Eastern Wealth Management and Eastern Insurance, is known for its outspoken advocacy and community support that has exceeded more than $110 million in charitable giving since 1999. An inclusive company, Eastern employs 1,900+ deeply committed professionals who value relationships with their customers, colleagues and communities. Eastern also partners with nonprofits, community and business leaders, elected officials and customers to strategically contribute to the communities it serves. These Partners for Good guide and connect Eastern to efforts that positively influence community challenges. Join us for good at www.easternbank.com and follow Eastern on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
About Darkness to Light
Darkness to Light is a nonprofit organization with the mission to empower adults to prevent child sexual abuse. Through education and awareness, the organization seeks to create a safer world for children to grow and thrive. Darkness to Light’s flagship program, Stewards of Children®, is an award-winning training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. More than 1.7 million adults including educators, youth serving professionals, organization volunteers, and community members have been certified in the program. Stewards of Children® is the only evidence-informed training of its kind, with the largest network of child protection advocates in the world as facilitators. For more information, visit www.D2L.org.
Media Contact:
Gwen Bouchie
Darkness to Light
843-513-1623
gbouchie@D2L.org
