Dala’s Blue Angels of Lebanon will be awarded the International Crime Prevention Award for Community Based Program of the Year by the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners, it has been announced.
To receive the award, Dala’s Blue Angels members will travel to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada for the ISCPP’s 2018 symposium on Sept. 20. In order to attend, they are asking for the community’s help for travel expenses.
Dala’s Blue Angels are a group of men and women formed to stand against child abuse, as its Facebook site states. It was formed five years ago by Dala Johnson.
The ISCPP consists of crime prevention professionals from across the U.S. and Canada whose mission is to reduce and control crime and victimization, according to its website. Johnson is first vice president on the ISCPP executive board of directors.
The Dala’s Blue Angels team of volunteers help with local events and charity, and host a variety of fund-raising efforts that support ABC House, CASA and Family Tree Relief Nursery, explained Dena Blacklaw, a Blue Angel volunteer.
They are perhaps best known for their annual Walk A Mile for a Child event, at which time they also tie blue ribbons around the city to raise awareness about child abuse.
Blacklaw said a member of the community nominated Dala’s Blue Angels and several letters of support were also sent in for the award.
Dala’s Blue Angels would like to raise $8,000 to send the volunteers to Ontario. To donate, contact the group at www.facebook.com/DalasBlueAngels.
Members will also host a car wash Aug. 12 at Mega Foods in Lebanon, and a hot dog sale Aug. 25 at Walmart in Albany.