AMY CENTER SEEKS AMBASSADORS FOR CENTRALIA LOCATION
Amy Schulz Child Advocacy Center
618-244-2100
1231 W. Broadway Ave. Suite #2, Centralia, IL
The Amy Schulz Child Advocacy Center
The Amy Schulz Child Advocacy Center is seeking Marion County residents, specifically from Centralia and Salem, to become ambassadors for its Centralia satellite location.
Michaela Wharton, executive director of The Amy Center, said the need comes from the overwhelming number of cases seen in Marion County, stating that in 2025, the center received 74 referrals from DCFS or law enforcement for Centralia cases.
“The need is great in Centralia. 74 referrals in one year, and we can only imagine how many instances of abuse are not getting reported,” said Wharton. “Centralia is a wonderful town, but, as is the case for any community, it is, certainly, not immune to child abuse. We are calling on caring individuals, compassionate and philanthropic local businesses, and mission-driven civic groups and clubs to help us build upon the momentum we are seeing in Centralia as we continue serving victimized children.”
“We work closely with Centralia PD and Marion Co. Sheriff's Office, as well as the Centralia Field Office for DCFS, and the Marion County State's Attorney's Office. Our Child Advocacy Center is consistently serving children and families in need in directly in Centralia,” Wharton continued. “Our satellite office has made such a difference in lessening the burden of transportation and availability for those families, as well. We know we are exactly where we are supposed to be.”
Wharton added that because of the Centralia satellite location’s high volume of activity - as it currently sees fifty percent of the organization’s forensic interviews across its seven counties - The Amy Center also needs ambassadors to promote community awareness and help support its endeavors.
“We are able to help a lot of families there by shortening the transportation and providing more accessibility. Now we just need more awareness in the community, and we would love for more people to support our ventures,” Wharton said. “We want to become immersed in the Centralia community. We have seen the need, and we’ve met it from a physical standpoint, but now we need that community awareness and involvement. Centralia is such a big part of what we’re doing with the Amy Center and our mission.”
Headquartered in Mt. Vernon, The Amy Center serves the counties of Jefferson, Marion, Washington, Wayne, Hamilton, Clinton, and Clay.
Below is a detailed outline description of an ambassador’s duties.
Helping drive up our online audience for our Facebook page
Invite your friends and family to follow The Amy Center
Share events and fundraisers
Post pics in Amy Center t-shirts and tag The Amy Center a couple of times a year
Helping us spread the news about our Center and our fundraisers
Invite The Amy Center to speak to a group or club you're a part of
Talk to community business leaders you know about the organization
Talk to your child's school and recommend our prevention education curriculum - help us facilitate a meeting with the school administration to see if The Amy Center can start presenting there
Assisting with fundraising needs
Look at our funding/sponsorship requests The Amy Center posts online and try to fill one spot (i.e. Find a $200 hole sponsorship for The Amy Center’s golf scramble in June, sell a couple produce boxes during their event in May, help them sell tickets to events we plan, send them recommendations from your community for dine & donate opportunities, help share their t-shirt sale opportunities, etc.)
Look at hosting a hat day at your child's school or a backpack drive in your community or a lemonade stand
The Amy Center recently had a child that sold fresh picked fruit from their garden and gave us the proceeds
The Amy Cener had little girls make bracelets and sell them through their moms' social media pages and give us the proceeds - the organization is happy when kids get involved, and likes to share their generosity and accolades. These do not have to be huge profit-generating items.
Attending one 15-minute meeting every other month - either with the whole group or with Executive Director, Micaela Wharton, if you're unable to meet during group time.
This can be a Zoom meeting or a phone call.
Example: The Amy Cener’s current fundraiser that Ambassadors are assisting with is our 1-in-10 Run Challenge. Each Ambassador was asked to secure three business sponsors at $100 each. Those sponsors will have their name on the back of the participant t-shirt and will get online promotion.
Those interested in becoming an ambassador with The Amy Center may contact Wharton at director@amycenter.org.
