Julie Valentine Center
By Executive Director Shauna Galloway-Williams (pictured)
March 01, 2011
Who is Julie Valentine? Julie Valentine is a name, a child and a symbol. A newborn child with no name was found on February 13, 1990, abandoned in a field on Greenville’s east side. Her identity was never discovered; her mother never found. The police who devoted hundreds of hours to this case named the baby girl Julie Valentine. Julie was abandoned by her family but adopted by the Greenville community. Giving Julie a name gave her a life that continues to encourage the community to take a stand against child abuse and sexual assault. This year, Julie would be 21 years old. In honor of Julie Valentine, the Greenville Rape Crisis and Child Abuse Center celebrated the first annual Julie Valentine Day with more than 500 of their closest friends and supporters. The center, founded in 1974, officially unveiled its new name the “Julie Valentine Center” honoring Julie and all of the silent victims of abuse and assault. The former name contained words that were very scary and shocking, much like many of cases that are seen at the center. What that name didn’t contain, was the message of hope, healing and empowerment that the center promotes and experiences with its clients each and every day.
Although the name has changed, the mission of the center remains the same: to end sexual violence and child abuse and the impact of these crimes through prevention, education, investigation, treatment and advocacy. Greenville County continues to rank highest in the state for reported cases of child maltreatment and sexual assault. In 2010, the Julie Valentine Center saw more than 500 new child cases, 85 percent involving sexual abuse, received more than 200 hotline calls, accompanied more than 100 victims in the emergency room and saw more than 300 parents complete parenting classes.
The center has risen to the challenge of being faced with decreasing resources during a time of increasing need. But like the clients that we serve, when faced with adversity we draw on our strength and are forced to create a “new normal.” For the Julie Valentine Center that “new normal” is letting the community know that despite the trauma that many have faced before they take that courageous step to walk in through our doors, there is hope, healing, empowerment and courage that follow them as they walk out.