What if you could help change the course of a child’s life forever? That’s exactly what Ed hopes to do this Giving Hearts Day. Ed, a retired science teacher and lifelong volunteer knows the impact childhood trauma can have across a lifetime. His support of the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center (RRCAC) is more than generous. It’s a tribute to someone he loved deeply and lost far too soon.
When Ed talks about why he gives, his answer is simple and profoundly personal. His late wife was a survivor of repeated sexual abuse as a young child in the 1950s, a time when support systems like RRCAC didn’t exist.
“It affected her for the rest of her life,” Ed shared. “And it affected those who loved her—me, her family, her friends.” That’s why today, he believes so strongly in the life-changing role Children’s Advocacy Centers play for children, families, and entire communities.
“Children’s Advocacy Centers are a great way to help kids, their families, and our communities,” he said. “Through gifts to Red River Children’s Advocacy Center, we can help kids for the rest of their lives. How often do you get a chance to do something like that?”
This Giving Hearts Day, Ed is turning that belief into action. In honor of his wife’s legacy, he is offering a matching gift, continues to support RRCAC through annual giving, and has made a legacy commitment through his estate plan.
RRCAC’s Giving Hearts Day theme, Together, We Can Help Them Break Through, reflects the organization’s belief that healing begins with visibility, access, and connection.
“Supporting RRCAC matters because we’re helping each other,” Ed said. “We’re supporting the kids and the people around them. And that makes our communities stronger.”
RRCAC’s 2026 Giving Hearts Day campaign centers on a growing and urgent need: reliable transportation. As services expand across the region, the organization is seeking $50,000 to purchase two agency vehicles, one based in Fargo and one in Grand Forks.
Reliable transportation is essential to RRCAC’s mission. Each year, the center provides more than 10,000 services to over 1,000 children and families across 63+ North Dakota counties, including rural and tribal communities.
“We’ve had emergency forensic interviews take place hours away, including recently in Minneapolis,” said Dan Lynum, Community Impact Lead at RRCAC. “When a child can’t come to us, we need to be able to go to them safely and quickly. These vehicles make that possible.”
The new agency vehicles would allow RRCAC to:
- Respond to emergency forensic interview requests
- Support children who cannot safely travel long distances
- Travel between Fargo, Grand Forks, and Devils Lake
- Reduce costly vehicle rentals and mileage reimbursements
- Support outreach, education, and professional training
How To Help
Early giving for Giving Hearts Day 2026 is now open, with the official giving day taking place Thursday, February 12, 2026. Donations made to RRCAC will directly support the organization’s ability to reach children and families, especially in moments when distance and access matter most.
To donate or learn more
To learn more or to partner with RRCAC on this need, please contact Sarah Matthews at sarah@rrcac.com.