Home > NewsRelease > Money, Shiny Medals a Reward for Child Abuse?
Text
Money, Shiny Medals a Reward for Child Abuse?
From:
Polly Franks - Crime Victim Advocate, Child Safety Expert Polly Franks - Crime Victim Advocate, Child Safety Expert
Richmond, VA
Monday, February 20, 2017

 

At least 60 former U.S. Olympic gymnasts are alleging they were sexually abused as children by their team physician Dr. Lawrence Nassar.  The numbers of alleged ncidents going back to the mid 1990s continue to climb and are staggereing. 

Nationally recognized crime victim advocate Polly Franks asks, "How were these alleged incidents allowed to happen unchecked for years?  Why was Dr. Nassar, allowed to "examine" these girls without any supervision?  It seems that many of our young olympic athletes have been sacrificed on the altar of big money and shiny medals.   90 percent of victims of child sexual abuse know their abuser. More often than not, the abuser is a trusted authority figure, which makes the abuse even more sinister.  Nothing less than a thorough investigation of each allegation is acceptable. America's underage Olympic athletes deserve as much and more."    

?Polly Franks has served as an advocate for victims of violent crime, particularly childhood sexual abuse, since 1995. Her commitment to this cause stems from her experience as the mother of three children who were endangered by a former neighbor and family friend who turned out to be a convicted sexual predator from another state.  During his crime spree between 1982 to 1998, this predator was linked to a minimum of 286 reported? incidents of sexual crimes.  Although she is in a wheelchair, Polly became a licensed private investigator for the sole purpose of bringing ths predator to justice.

He is now in prison serving a life sentence.

Since that time, Polly has testified before Congress and lobbied on Capitol Hill for tougher sex offender laws, such as the nationwide Amber Alert bill and the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act.  Her story was published in Good Housekeeping magazine.  She has been interviewed by the Today Show, Dateline NBC, 20/20, Court TV, the John Walsh Show, ABC World News Tonight, CNN/HLN, Nancy Grace and Fox News.  In addition, she has numerous interviews for national radio programs, as well ans newspaper and magazine articles.  She has shared her story in audiences throughout the country. 

In 2006, Polly created the Franks Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting America's children from sexual predators.  Since that time, the Franks Foundation has been expanded and renamed "It's Not Your Fault," (www.itsnotyourfault.us)

In 2017, her story was published by Vandamere Press in a nonfiction book "Devil at My Door." (www.devilatmydoor.com)

Polly is a graduate of Bluefield College.  She is the very proud mother of three grown daughters, one grandchild, a menagerie of house pets (her four-legged children) and a host of "honorary" sons and daughters.    

News Media Interview Contact
Name: Polly Franks
Title: Executive Director
Group: It's Not Your Fault
Dateline: Richmond, VA United States
Direct Phone: 804.564.9196
Main Phone: 804-564-9196
Jump To Polly Franks - Crime Victim Advocate, Child Safety Expert Jump To Polly Franks - Crime Victim Advocate, Child Safety Expert
Contact Click to Contact