The Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Campaign had its early beginnings following the death of a very young child.

In spring 1989, Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother received the devastating news that her beloved grandson had died of injuries inflicted by his parents. In an expression of her grief and outrage, this grandmother did something that has given us a symbol, around which we rally for the cause of child abuse prevention.

She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van as a way to remember "the bruised and battered body of her grandson" and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse.
In Bonnie's own words: The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection of our children.
Please wear a blue ribbon. Put one on your car. Give one to your friends. Tell them what it means. You may save a child's life!

Her simple idea, to wear or display a blue ribbon to show support for her child abuse prevention was picked up by grassroots organizations across the country.

The act of one grandmother thousands of miles away leads us to this day. Just think what could happen if each one of us helped to spread the word to a few of the people that we
come in contact with each day. The groundswell of support that would follow just might be enough to move us towards the day when our homes and communities are completely safe.