[1] John Slauch (CVC Board President); Mike Noone (First Deputy District Attorney); Jim Ciliberto (Chester County Detectives); and Christine Zaccarelli, Esquire (CEO of CVC) pose with Ciliberto who won the Inaugural Peggy Gusz Victims’ Advocacy Legacy Award for his advocacy efforts over the years.
The John Crane Child Victims’ Advocacy Award is presented annually by the CVC Board of Directors to a person in Chester County who is not in the field of victim advocacy but through their work in related fields, supports child victims and their needs.
Fegley was nominated by CVC’s Community Outreach Supervisor, Joe Myers, to commend the work being accomplished through the Phoenixville HUB. This is a school district-based organization, bringing together school professionals and outside providers to create a coordinated system of care for the students and families in the district.
“Every three weeks the HUB discusses different cases, students, and families who could use specialized and specific care,” explained Myers. “By accepting and empowering the whole village to raise PASD students, everyone upholds their stake in protecting and leading these young people through their Pre-K to 12th grade formative years.”
The Peggy Gusz Award was newly created this year to recognize Margaret “Peggy” Gusz’s longtime victim advocacy efforts since the agency was formed in 1973. Through her efforts, she helped give a voice to victims when their needs went unmet and helped change the attitudes of law enforcement professionals, medical professionals and the legal system toward victims. She also was responsible for having legislation enacted to guarantee victims’ rights and trainings formalized for professionals and volunteers who work with victims.
This inaugural award was given to Chester County Detective Jim Ciliberto. In Peggy’s words: “Jim truly embodies the mission of The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. His lifelong law enforcement career of working with and for victims of all ages parallels the dedication to advocacy that CVC stands for. Thank you, Jim, for your professional and selfless service to victims of crime, including the very young, the elderly, and victims of homicide, as well as the families and friends affected by these crimes. It is my honor to know you and to have worked with you over the years.”
