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JEFFERSON CITY- Pinwheels for Prevention, a child abuse prevention awareness event was held at the state capitol Wednesday afternoon. Pinwheels for Prevention was created to promote a focus on community activities and public policies that stress the importance of child abuse prevention.

Joy Oesterly, the ceremony's Interim Executive Director, says that the pinwheel garden puts a new spin on child abuse prevention. The blue and silver pinwheels are the symbol of child abuse prevention. She advocates the importance of prevention so that parents and guardians are aware of how to control situations that do not lead to child abuse or neglect.

Verizon Wireless Missouri and Kansas President, Brendan Fallis, presented a check for $9,000 to the organization. Fallis is also a board member of Missouri KidsFirst, and says it is his job to raise awareness and funds for child abuse and neglect prevention. He says that he has employees from one side of the state to the other, and believes it is critical to prevent child abuse in every community in which he serves.

Hundreds of blue and silver pinwheels were placed on the steps of the state capitol. The pinwheel replaced the blue ribbon in representing child abuse prevention. Communities across Missouri are creating pinwheel gardens. Brookside in Kansas City, and a sorority at MU are two communities already participating. Anyone interested in creating a pinwheel garden can get more information at www.missourikidsfirst.org.