Come for the MANicure, leave with a mission
CCKids invites community to launch of 2020 MANicure Movement

February 28, 2020

St. Lucie West -

Communities Connected for Kids will launch this year’s MANicure Movement to “polish off” child abuse during a special kickoff breakfast at 10 a.m., April 10, at 1860 SW Fountainview Blvd., St. Lucie West.

Attendees are encouraged to stop by for a light breakfast provided by Rosenthal, Levy, Simon and Sosa and stay for a special “manicure” – a fingernail painted blue to symbolize the one in five children who experience abuse.

The statewide movement began four years ago in Orlando to spark community-wide conversations about child-abuse prevention and expanded into Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast last April during National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.

Anyone can participate, but the focus is on men.

“Painting one nail blue – the color that symbolizes child-abuse prevention—is an attention getter, but painting one nail on a man is a conversation starter,” said Christina Kaiser, CCKids community relations director. “We want a lot of people talking about this issue.”

That includes the office, she said.

“We’re really pushing it into the local workforce,” Kaiser said. “If you come to our breakfast, we’re going to send you back to your office with a manicure kit of nail polish and education materials.”

Those who miss the kickoff breakfast will have a second chance to get involved on April 15 during a daylong MANicure event hosted at the St. Lucie County Fire District, 5160 NW Milner Drive, Port St. Lucie.

First responders will file in throughout the day, coming by ambulance and fire truck to get their fingernails painted blue.

New this year, guests at both events will have the opportunity to sign up for a MANicure pledge drive.

“The whole point of this campaign is to get people talking about child-abuse prevention,” Kaiser said. “We want people to take pledges for the number of manicures they give throughout the month of April – the more manicures given, the more conversations about prevention.”

Proceeds from the drive will go back into the campaign to help educate more people. If you'd like to sign up to take pledges, or if you'd like to learn how you can start a campaign at your place of business, call Kaiser at (772) 528-0362.

Communities Connected for Kids is the non-profit organization responsible for the child-welfare system in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.