Rumors, Dirty Richmond join forces, fight child abuse

Mechelle Hankerson
Assistant Spectrum Editor

Photos by Chris Conway
Staff Photographer

Greater Richmond Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) is celebrating its 20th year with help from VCU students, the popular Richmond fashion blog Dirty Richmond and local boutique Rumors.

Nonprofit management graduate student and the author of Dirty Richmond, Brian McDaniel, teamed up with his classmate, fellow nonprofit management graduate student, Jessica Wells to help reorganize SCAN’s “Abes for Babes” second-annual penny drive.

The two students were enrolled in the principles for nonprofit class that was an introduction to the nonprofit sector.

While most students each picked different nonprofits to focus on, Wells and McDaniel both picked Greater Richmond SCAN.

SCAN works to provide awareness, support and education to help children. They provide programs like the Family Support Program, Child Advocacy Center and the Circle Preschool Program. SCAN provides services to Richmond and the surrounding counties (Henrico, Chestefield, Louisa, Powhatan, Goochland and Hanover).

“It’s such a well-known non-profit around Richmond, and everyone knows their name,” Wells said of choosing SCAN.

McDaniel agreed with Wells and added, “It’s for kids; how can you say no to that?”

While the class ended in December, Wells and McDaniel continued helping SCAN and Wells has even started to volunteer as an administrative assistant twice a week.

Rumors, who holds Shop for a Reason events, allowed Wells and McDaniels to use the store and donated 20 percent of all sales on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to the organization.

To find out more information about SCAN, visit www.grscan.com