Media Release
Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden’s office today announced that the deadline for its annual student senior abuse video competition has been extended to May 1, 2012. The contest, sponsored by the Attorney General’s Senior Protection Initiative, is designed to engage young people in raising awareness of senior abuse in families and communities across Delaware. The competition is open to all high school students enrolled in Delaware public, private, and parochial schools or home schooled in Delaware.
“Senior abuse, whether in the form of physical abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect, occurs far too often in Delaware and across the country,” Attorney General Biden said. “We’ve taken action to stop these crimes, including increasing penalties for offenses against seniors. But for every case of senior abuse that is reported to authorities, five cases go unreported because victims don’t know where to turn for help, are ashamed, are afraid of their abuser, or fear losing their independence. That’s why we’re asking students to participate in our video competition to help protect an older generation by spreading information and driving home the importance of reporting these crimes to police or Delaware’s Senior Abuse Hotline at 1-800-223-9074.”
Students are asked to work individually or in teams to produce a video from 30 seconds to two minutes in length that illustrates this year’s theme – Stop Abuse and Financial Exploitation (SAFE) – as a way to raise awareness and encourage reporting of senior abuse. More information, including an introductory video featuring Attorney General Biden, last year’s winning entry, and contest rules are posted at www.dev.gic.dos.state.de.us/ConnectingGenerations.
The video submission deadline is May 1, 2012. Winners will be notified by May 30, 2012 and will be awarded cash prizes of $500 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place. Biden thanked the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council for providing the award funding.
Questions about the contest may be directed to the Attorney General’s Senior Protection Initiative at seniorprotection@delaware.gov.
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