ANAHEIM : Clinton Joins Bush in Honoring Eli Home

One of the few things former President George Bush and President Bill Clinton apparently agree on is the value of the Eli Home.

The nonprofit organization, dedicated to preventing child abuse, was named the 338th Point of Light by Bush three years ago and now is set to receive a Presidential Citation from Clinton for outstanding community service.

“It’s amazing to me,” said Lorri Galloway, executive director and co-founder of the home. “To be recognized by two presidents in a row seems phenomenal.”

Galloway and a handful of the home’s 225 volunteers will travel to Washington in early May to pick up the latest award. The Anaheim organization was one of only 40 groups and individuals selected for the honor from a nationwide field of 5,000.

In its 11 years, the Eli Home has helped more than 8,000 parents and children with its counseling and other support services. In 1993 alone, the home treated 1,025 clients.

The organization offers emergency shelter, counseling and therapy to mothers and children who have suffered emotional, physical or sexual abuse. The group, which has an annual budget of $250,000, receives no state or federal funding.

“Our biggest strength is our volunteers,” Galloway said. “We do the work of organizations that have 10 times the budget we do because of the quality of our volunteers.”

One longtime volunteer is Daphne Sizemore of Tustin, who has been serving at the home since 1985.

“I love the warmth of being able to give,” Sizemore said. “We truly have put our hearts into making it work, and it hasn’t been easy. It’s very exciting to get this recognition.”

In addition to treatment, the home also tries to emphasize child abuse prevention. Child abuse affects one in four youngsters in the country.

“By focusing on prevention, you are really making a much stronger contribution to social change,” Galloway said. “If you aren’t dealing with prevention, you aren’t doing anything but putting a Band-Aid on the problem.”

Galloway said the Eli Home will open another facility in Anaheim Hills within three months.