Autauga businesses rally to support child abuse prevention month campaign

Autauga County businesses have turned coffee runs, car washes and fuel purchases into a funding stream for Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center, tying everyday spending to the county’s child abuse prevention campaign.

The effort lands in a state where the need is large. In its 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation, Gov. Kay Ivey said more than 38,000 Alabama children were involved in suspected abuse and neglect cases in 2024, and about 5,900 children were in the state’s foster care system. Child Abuse Prevention Month is built around the idea that families, schools, medical providers and neighbors can intervene before abuse escalates, and the pinwheel remains the campaign’s symbol. This year’s national theme, Pinwheels of Possibility, puts that responsibility squarely on communities.

In Prattville and across Elmore and Autauga counties, Butterfly Bridge is using business partnerships to make that message visible. Fountain City Nutrition is donating $1 from each Blue Pinwheel Loaded Tea through the month. Adrienne’s Bar is giving $1 from each blue drink special. Candy Corner marked its 10th anniversary by donating 10% of sales on April 4. Soda Jerk supported the campaign from April 6 through April 12, and Blended Bubbles donated $1 from each Blue Ribbon Fizz through April 11. Joey’s Car Wash raised more than $1,000 with a hotdog-and-drink combo event on April 12.

The calendar still has more on it. Dutch Bros is set to donate $1 from every drink on April 18, Cloud 9 Aviation is contributing 5% of all fuel sales during the month, and the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to host a painting fundraiser on April 16. Long Lewis Prattville, Pest Pro and Dirt Nerd also backed the effort, while a live broadcast on April 8 and local shirt sales, yard-sign sales and blue-wear campaigns widened the reach beyond a single storefront.

For Butterfly Bridge, the point is not just visibility. The center says it provides forensic interviews requested by law enforcement or the Department of Human Resources, expert court testimony, trauma-informed therapy for child victims and non-offending family members, on-site pediatric sexual assault medical services at no cost to families, and family advocacy through the criminal-justice process. Its role is to keep children from having to repeat their stories while police, DHR and medical and legal professionals work together.

Butterfly Bridge said in its 2022-23 impact report that it expanded its facilities, added on-site forensic medical services for all children in its service area and increased outreach and training capacity. The report said Flutter and Clay For Kids raised a combined total of more than $240,000. The center serves children in Chilton, Autauga and Elmore counties, and United Way of Central Alabama has described it as the only organization of its kind in Chilton County, building on more than a decade of service after Chilton County children were previously routed through Child Protect CAC in Montgomery.

The campaign gives Autauga County a practical way to back that system. Each blue drink, fuel sale and fundraiser feeds the same network of interviews, medical care, therapy and courtroom support that helps abused children move from crisis toward recovery.