Download the 7 Steps

Download the 7 Steps to Protecting our Children Guiding responsible adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. You can download Darkness to Light's 7 Steps to Protecting our Children by right-clicking on the link below and choosing "Save Target As". You will need the free software Adobe Acrobat to view the file.

Darkness to Lights Congressional Voice of Courage Award

Merriam-Webster defines courage as “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. The word is derived from the Latin cor, which translates to “heart”.

This award is given in recognition of individuals and organizations who have the heart to step forward and bring the topic of child sexual abuse to the fore. Past recipients of the “Voice of Courage” include Boston attorney Wendy Murphy, filmmakers Amy Berg and Angela Shelton, actress Anne Heche, actress and playwright Eve Ensler, Miss American 1958 Marilyn Van Derbur, and activist John Walsh. Corporate recipients include Time, Inc., Young & Rubicam, CNN, and Volvo of North America.

Each year, the Voice of Courage Selection Committee is given the daunting task of selecting a winner from a list of very deserving nominees. Committee membership is made up of past honorees.

2009 is the inaugural year for the Congressional Voice of Courage. Because of the extraordinary leadership Congressman James E. Clyburn and Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. have demonstrated to ensure, not only federal funding, but partnership with the SC Department of Education we are honored to bestow this honor on them. Because of their commitment 10,000 SC educators were trained to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse and most importantly 100,000 children in SC are better protected. On behalf of the many children who do not know they have our Congressmen to thank, we thank them for their relentless work to keep children safe.