HANCOCK COUNTY — Standing next to a picnic table outside of Zoey’s Place with her family gathered beside, Shannon Crull tilted her head backward and laughed aloud when she realized she was being honored.
It was a surprise announcement for two community members identified as “superheroes” who always seem to find the time and energy to advocate for the county’s most vulnerable children.
For the third year in a row, officials with Zoey’s Place, Hancock County’s dedicated Child Advocacy Center (CAC), recognized two different community individuals, a professional and a civilian, who have both contributed to the success of the program.
During a special award presentation on Wednesday, officials from Zoey’s Place surprised Crull, a victim’s advocate with the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office, with the professional “superhero” award and surprised community resident Diane Burklow with the civilian “superhero” award.
“I was really surprised,” Crull said after the ceremony. “They told me to swing by because my son was getting an award.”
Officials with Zoey’s Place say both county women have worked tirelessly to help the children’s center succeed.
Katie Molinder has been the executive director of Zoey’s Place since this past spring. However, her love of wanting to help community children goes back further. In 2014, she worked with Hancock County Prosecutor Brent Eaton as the county’s first victim assistance coordinator.
It was almost a decade ago when county officials first began exploring the idea of having a CAC and how one could work locally. Molinder noted the importance of community members contributing to the success of Zoey’s Place, which has served an estimate 400 children and their families since the doors first opened in 2021.
“These awards, they go to the people in our community who are pivotal in helping kids,” Molinder said. “I really think handing out these types of awards is one of the important things we do because there is no way we can do all we need to do with the two and a half people we have working here.”
The organization helps children and families during and after a report of child abuse, neglect, sexual assault, or other crime against children. Hancock County Chief Deputy Prosecutor and Zoey’s Place board member Aimee Herring presented Crull with her award and called Crull a true “superhero” in the community due to her courage, fortitude and selflessness.
“She has over some 600 cases she handles individually often putting in countless hours of overtime to make sure victims get the service they deserve,” Herring said. “She is lovingly referred to in the prosecutor’s office as ‘Mama Crull’ because she is always handing out hugs and smiles to anyone who needs them. I am shocked she does not have a house full of children who have come into our office asking for help.”
Misty Fuller presented Burklow, a co-director with Hancock for Kids, with the civilian award calling Burklow a person who goes above and beyond, often stepping outside of her comfort zone to help children in the community.
“She has been a part of Hancock for Kids since day one,” Fuller said. “She’s been a central character in the growth and success of the organization we are here to support today.”
Zoey’s Place CAC was officially founded in 2018 and is named in the memory of Zoey Wagoner. Zoey died at the hands of her mother and father when she was only one year old. Investigators believed her death was likely the result of repeated abuse and sexual molestation.
Past Zoey’s Place Superheros are Sheriff Brad Burkhart in 2021, for donating recording equipment to Zoey’s Place; Ninestar Connect in 2021, for their commitment to helping Zoey’s Place; Marcia McClarnon in 2022 and Jeff Young in 2022, who officials say have all worked tirelessly to help Zoey’s Place serve county youth.
