How does the national media try to control how Americans perceive the Trump presidency? One way is to not report on actions that make the Trumps look good. Take for example the Good Friday visit by First Lady Melania Trump to HomeSafe, a home for abused girls in Lake Worth, Florida,located a few miles south of the the Winter White House at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach where President Trump is spending the Easter weekend with his family.
First Lady Melania Trump visits HomeSafe, photo via HomeSafe.
The First Lady’s visit to HomeSafe was unannounced, however a press release was issued by HomeSafe and several photos were posted online including at the @FLOTUS Twitter account.
Yet, with the exception of the local Palm Beach Post and FootwearNews which focused on the shoes she wore to HomeSafe, no media reported on the First Lady’s visit.
I had a wonderful time visiting @HomeSafeFla today! The young ladies I spoke with hold so much promise for the future. pic.twitter.com/3W5i2Xpo5m
— Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) April 14, 2017
Pic from HomeSafe of @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP visiting the girls' residence today. Story: https://t.co/zBkPUlSSAe pic.twitter.com/dx0pUtbH1J
— George Bennett (@gbennettpost) April 14, 2017
Today we were excited to have @FLOTUS visit our girls group home in Lake Worth.Thank you for taking the time to listen & talk with the girls pic.twitter.com/v0OqECxqDa
— HomeSafe (@HomeSafeFla) April 14, 2017
Excerpt from the HomeSafeFL press release (photos here):
This morning, First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise visit to HomeSafe, and visited with the girls living in one of the five residential group homes run by the agency. Mrs. Trump brought gifts for each of the girls and spent time in the home visiting with all of them. In addition, she brought Easter Baskets and stuffed bunnies for other clients served by HomeSafe.
“We were thrilled to have the First Lady here and for our girls to spend time with her,” said Matthew Ladika, CEO of HomeSafe. “What a unique experience for them. This is something they will never forget.”
The First Lady spent about 45 minutes at the agency. The girls she visited with are victims of abuse, ages 12-17, who have been removed from their family and placed in HomeSafe’s residential program for treatment of the trauma they have suffered…”
Since 1979, HomeSafe is a nationally accredited non-profit organization protecting Palm Beach County’s and South Florida’s most vulnerable residents – victims of child abuse and domestic violence.
Our mission: Creating safer, more productive lives for infants, children and families.
Through its results-driven approach, HomeSafe has grown into a leading provider of prevention and intervention services, serving more than 16,000 infants, children, young adults and families each year.
Today, HomeSafe offers comprehensive programs including:
Healthy Beginnings, funded by Children Services Council of Palm Beach County, helping:
identify and prevent child abuse and neglect
promote healthy births
ensure children are ready and eager to learn by kindergarten
Independent Living Housing Program (Pond Place) – Opened in August 2016, this program provides safe, affordable housing for clients who have “aged out” of group home foster care.
Residential Group Care, providing abused children with comprehensive therapeutic services to treat severe trauma
SafetyNet, providing immediate intervention and prevention services to victims of domestic violence and their children
The First Lady spoke last month at a State Department event, presenting the International Women of Courage Award to women from around the world.
An excerpt from Melania Trump’s speech:
…We must continue to fight injustice in all its forms, in whatever scale or shape it takes in our lives. Together, we must declare that the era of allowing the brutality against women and children is over, while affirming that the time for empowering around the world is now. For wherever women are diminished, the entire world is diminished with them. However, wherever women are empowered, towns and villages, schools and economies, are empowered, and together we are all made stronger with them. We must begin now to challenge old fears, fight long-held prejudices and stand up against evil and injustice wherever it may be.
“As leaders of our shared global community, we must continue to work towards gender empowerment and respect people from all backgrounds and ethnicities, remembering always that we are all ultimately members of one race: the human race. Each one of us is uniquely gifted. We must continually [revere] our American values as we join with the international community to make our world safer through acts of collaborative and individual bravery.
“Thank you, honorees, for your courage, and thank you, Ambassador Shannon, for your support. God bless you and God bless this great nation. Thank you.”
