Olympian Aly Raisman Speaks at Baltimore Child Abuse Center Gala

On stage at the "Be A Hero Gala" are (left to right) Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, gala chair Mandee Heinl, Adam Rosenberg, executive director of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, and event co-chair Brett Cohen. (Photo by Aliza Friedlander)

Mandee Heinl describes chairing the Baltimore Child Abuse Center’s sixth annual “Be A Hero Gala,” featuring Olympic gold medalist gymnast Aly Raisman, as nothing less than transformational.

“I had a really hard childhood and experienced abuse,” said Heinl, 28, who lives in Baltimore County. “While chairing this event has been difficult and triggering, it has helped me channel my energy into something good and given me a platform to make a point to people that this is not a problem that impacts one demographic or another.

“This impacts everyone.”

More than 700 people attended the gala on May 10 at theHippodrome Theatre. The gala honors the work of individuals who are doing theirpart to fight child abuse in Baltimore and beyond.

According to BCAC, one in four girls and one in six boys are physically, emotionally and sexually abused. Raisman, 24, made international headlines in 2017 when she spoke out against former USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar.

Aly Raisman:
“I don’t know if you ever truly heal, but for me therapy helps a lot as well as self-care. I love gardening, meditating and being outside.” (Photo Provided)

“This is something that is important to talk about,” Raismantold the Hippodrome audience. “When I was younger and being abused, I didn’trealize it was sexual abuse. I was always warned about ‘stranger danger,’ butit’s not always a creepy man who is the abuser. It can really be anyone, and weneed to change the dialogue. It didn’t occur to me at the time that someone Itrusted could be hurting me.”

Raisman, the second most decorated American gymnast of all time, emphasized that she does not want the designation of being an abuse survivor to be a defining characteristic for her life.

“This is bigger than myself, which is why I try not to talktoo much about my own story,” she said. “I don’t know if you ever truly heal,but for me therapy helps a lot as well as self-care. I love gardening,meditating and being outside.” 

Since speaking out against Nassar — who was convicted of sexualassault and child pornography charges – Raisman has traveled across the countryto advocate for systemic changes within the gymnastics community and to speakout against sexual abuse.

“If something doesn’t feel right, it’s not right,” she said.“It’s alright to ask questions. The lack of education surrounding sexual abuseis horrifying and perpetuates the problem. We live in a world where peoplejudge women for what they wear, but we should judge abusers for not gettingconsent.”

Raisman praised BCAC and its counterparts around the nationfor their determination in combatting child abuse.

“The work BCAC does can be draining and exhausting,” shesaid. “It can also be a little depressing when you realize how many people aregoing through such horrible things. But there are also amazing moments when yousee the transformation of a survivor that is thriving and going on to doamazing things”

Mandee Heinl said BCAC’s mission hits close to home for her.

“I knew the things that happened in my home were wrong, but I never identified my childhood as abusive until last year,” said Heinl, who serves as regional director for a U.S senator. “For me, the system failed. I had Child Protective Services in my home a few times. There needed to be a better way, and with BCAC you are seeing best practices as well as legislation to change practices.”

Unlike other survivors of childhood abuse, Heinl has managedto build a life of love, happiness and success. Today, she and her husband arethe parents of two young children. “I have the most supportive andunderstanding husband, who is my hero,” she said.

The message of the “Be A Hero Gala” — which raised morethan $300,000 for BCAC’s services — was one of hope and rejuvenation as theHippodrome was transformed into a space brimming with butterflies. Thebutterfly is a symbol of BCAC.

“Every kid who comes through BCAC decorates a butterfly,”said Adam Rosenberg, the nonprofit’s executive director. “The butterfly istransformational and also makes our space a place where kids are happy.”

Founded more than 30 years ago, BCAC is a one-stop shop forchildren who have suffered child sexual abuse, trauma and other AdverseChildhood Experiences. The staff — which includes medical personnel, mentalhealth experts and social workers — work collaboratively on child abuse cases.

“Child abuse is bigger than a crime and justice issue,”Rosenberg said. “It’s a real public epidemic because victims of abuse can havea lifetime of health problems.”

BCAC, which joined LifeBridge Health earlier this year, trainsthousands of individuals across the country on how to keep children safe. Inaddition, the organization works with state lawmakers to advocate for victimsof abuse.

“Kids who go through child trauma or sexual abuse can be setup for poor outcomes later in life, but it’s not a death sentence,” saidRosenberg. “It’s a marker for us to know we have to do something.”

Said Heinl: “I had many other people in my life that helpedme break the cycle of abuse, but for many kids all they have is BCAC. That iswhat helps them identify situations aren’t right. I found protection elsewhere,but many kids walk in here and find that same kind of protection. That is why Icare so much.”

For information about the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, visitbcaci.orgorg.

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