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Start Of Construction Is Next Step For Kids

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2007

WEST TAMPA - Four years ago, the goal was set to build a one-stop location to assist children who have been physically or sexually abused.

The next step was to find a site near hospitals and courthouses. That task took two years and five locations until organizers of Mary Lee's House found property at 2806 N. Armenia Ave.

On Tuesday, ground was broken for a 30,000-square-foot building, which should be completed by September.

The building will house the offices of several agencies, including investigators from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the 13th Judicial Circuit's Children's Justice Center and a team from the University of South Florida's pediatrics department.

It will also have space for the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, child mental health specialists and the state attorney's and public defender's offices.

Those agencies assist young abuse victims, but their offices are scattered, which can cause stress to the children and families, Sheriff David Gee said.

Mary Lee's House will offer those services under one roof.

"It will be a bright star in the shadowy world of child abuse," Gee told the audience at the groundbreaking.

An estimated 15,000 cases of child sexual and physical abuse are reported each year in Hillsborough.

"Protecting children is not our job; it is our responsibility," Gee said.

The nonprofit organization is named for Mary Lee Farrior, a board member who contributed $1 million to the organization. Her son, Tampa lawyer Rex Farrior III, is board chairman. The organization has raised $3.9 million of its $6 million goal.

Mary Lee's House is modeled after agencies nationwide. The first such program began in Huntsville, Ala., in the 1980s. Miami-Dade County, Orlando, Ocala and Niceville have similar programs.

Rex Farrior said he is humbled by the support.

"You envision it happening, and you have your ups and downs along the way," he said. "And all the sudden we are here. I hope it brings compassion for our community's children."

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 825-2110 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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