The Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center lost a much-needed grant recently, valued at $82,000. This comes as an unexpected setback as the center is managing a record number of child victimization cases this year, said Deborah Keith, the center's executive director.

"This grant money was needed for salaries for our busy staff. We don't know the exact reason that we and other advocacy centers in this region lost out on the grant. It has to do with the fact that we provide services in rural areas that don't have high crime numbers like Houston, Dallas or Austin," Ms. Keith said.

"But, what we know for certain is that we have high numbers of child abuse cases.

"This year alone, we are more than 44 percent higher in the number of child victim cases compared to last year."

At the end of August, the center's staff provided services to 216 physically or sexually abused children. During all of 2007, the staff managed 225 cases.

The center provides services for seven Hill Country counties: Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, Mills and San Saba.

"The staff works diligently and conscientiously to provide all the necessary services to abused children and their non-offending family members," said Mike Center, president of the HCCAC board of directors. "This year, we really need individual and community support to help us continue our mission to break the cycle of child abuse, one child at a time. With the loss of this grant, your generous support is very much needed and is greatly appreciated."

On Nov. 8, the second annual Cowboy Up for Kids event will be held from 6-10 p.m. at Boulder Creek Farms, five miles east of Marble Falls on FM 1431. The event features music, dancing and entertainment by KR Wood and his Cowboy Band, and includes a full steak dinner.

Sponsorships range from the $10,000 Big Tex level to the $500 Wrangler category, and include varying levels of publicity and event tickets. Individual tickets are $100 each.

For more information on Cowboy Up for Kids sponsorships and tickets or to make a donation to the advocacy center, contact Doris Graeter at 756-2607 or by e-mail at hccac@tstar.net.