Valdosta City Hall lawn is now covered with 887 spinning pinwheels which will be on display during the month of April in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each of the 887 pinwheels placed on the Valdosta City Hall lawn represent a report of child abuse in Lowndes County in 2013.

In conjunction with Prevent Child Abuse Lowndes County, the Children’s Advocacy Center and the Flower Gallery, the Blue Ribbon and Pinwheel Campaign’s official kick-off took place Friday, March 28 by placing pinwheels and hanging blue bows on light posts in downtown Valdosta.

The 18th Annual Blue Ribbon Campaign featured Mayor John Gayle and Commissioner Bill Slaughter presenting the proclamation. Terri Jenkins, Executive Director of the South Georgia chapter of The American Red Cross, was the keynote speaker delivering a powerful first-hand speech about overcoming adversity having experienced abuse as a child. Elaine Grice, Court Appointed Special Advocate Executive Director also challenged the audience to go beyond the symbols of the ribbon and pinwheel and talk to people about the prevention of child abuse.

The pinwheel represents PCA Lowndes County's efforts to change the way our community thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize healthy child development. It is part of the national Pinwheels for Prevention® campaign that has seen more than 2.3 million pinwheels – the new national symbol for child abuse prevention – distributed since April 2008, which was first started here in Lowndes County.