For the month of November, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department and supporters of the Lighthouse Child Advocacy Center grew out their beards for a great cause. The annual “No Shave for the Brave” fundraiser has had its most successful year to date. For 2022, there were 9 participants who raised a record amount of $1,355 in donations.

Usually required to be clean shaven, Wetzel County Sheriff Mike Koontz allowed the deputies who participated to break the rules for what he said he believes is a good cause. “All of the money raised goes towards the Lighthouse Child Advocacy Center’s mission of providing hope and healing to child survivors of abuse in Wetzel and Tyler Counties. Bringing in a record of $1,355 in donations, participants raised more than money ­ they raised awareness. We are so grateful for the Wetzel County Sheriffás Department, friends of the CAC, and all the community support” said Susan Scharf, Executive Director of the Lighthouse CAC.

Leading the group in donations and winner of “2022 Best Challenger” is PRO/Deputy Eric Daugherty. Deputy Daugherty raised an impressive donation total of $940. As the PRO for Wetzel County Schools, Deputy Daugherty had the support of teachers and school staff to help him surpass his goal of $800 in donations for the CAC. Deputy Daugherty has already set his goal for next year of $1,000.

The award of “2022 Best Beard” was chosen by people’s choice votes via the Lighthouse CAC’s Facebook page. In December, all nine participantsá bearded photos were posted to Facebook for the public to choose who they believe has the best beard. The winner of the â2022 Best Beardã is Deputy CJ Vega with over 220 votes.

“We would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who participated and donated, especially Sheriff Mike Koontz, Chief Deputy Rob Hayes, Investigator Ben Placer, PRO/Deputy Eric Daugherty, Deputy CJ Vega, Deputy Michael Owens, Deputy Levi Smith, Deputy Gary Glasscock II, and Internationally known speaker & supporter of CAC’s, Jim Holler. ‘No Shave for the Brave’ is always a fun celebration of law enforcement, CAC supporters, and the work of CAC’s to bring hope and healing to kids in our community. We always look forward to this fundraiser every year.” Scharf said.

The Lighthouse Child Advocacy Center is a child-friendly facility with dedicated staff that work to provide children and families professional, compassionate care in order to reduce the trauma often experienced by children that are victims of abuse. Rather than having a child taken from agency to agency to endure multiple interviews, the CAC model brings the systems to the child for an effective, child-centered, healing process. The CAC works within a multidisciplinary model that includes child protection, law enforcement, prosecution, and other treatment professionals with the goal of holding offenders accountable and facilitating healing for the child.

While the beards are now gone, donations to the Lighthouse Child Advocacy Center are always accepted and greatly appreciated to help local children. If you would like to donate, you can do so by mailing a check or money order to: The Lighthouse CAC, 261 Monroe Avenue, New Martinsville, WV 26155 or by calling 304-398-2311 or by visiting www.thelighthousecac.org.

If you suspect abuse or neglect, please call the West Virginia Child Abuse hotline at 1-800-352-6513.