First floor of new, 30,000 sq. ft. building.
/ Chris McGrath
SYRACUSE -- Since first opening its doors in 2002, the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site has played an important role in helping children and families impacted by child abuse.
But its home on West Onondaga Street hasn't kept up with the times -- and folks at the organization have been working on finding a new place to work out of.
Thursday night -- the group showed off its new, state-of-the-art facility on East Genesee Street in Syracuse. At 30,000 square feet, it's ten times larger than the home on West Onondaga Street. More importantly, it will end the practice of forcing young victims to go to several places after abuse.
The child can come in, be interviewed, be medically treated if need be, then steered to the right services -- all in the same building," said Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick, an Honorary Co-chair on the organization's Capital Campaign committee, along with Helen Marrone -- wife of SU head football coach Doug Marrone, and Juli Boeheim -- wife of SU men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim.
The building is empty now -- but will be fully operational by August. A fundraising campaign aims at raising $3-million over the next three years to help pay for all the renovations and keep the facility in top shape going forward.
For more information on the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site and how you can get involved/donate, click here.
