The Children Performance Workshops (CPW) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was presented the Director's Community Leadership Award on November 7, 1996, at the Virginia Beach City Council Chambers. The presentation was in conjunction with the Honorable Meyera A. Oberndorf "Mayor's Recognition Day" program.

The CPW's achievements in prevention, education and community events are truly impressive. The Workshop, founded by Mrs. Regina Marscheider, uses the production of "Knock, Knock. . . . . Who's There?," an Emmy award-winning, educational marionette show to accomplish its mission of working to insure the safety of children everywhere. The program is designed to educate and empower children against the affects of child abuse and violence at home. Working with local schools and civic leagues, CPW teaches children how to recognize, prevent, and disclose abuse. CPW's goal and mission is to make their program available not only in Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth of Virginia but across America. They have performed at numerous inner-city schools and various cities in Canada, and have been invited to perform overseas.

The CPW has received well-deserved recognition, locally and nationally, for efforts to prevent child abuse prevention. For more information about CPW, visit their Web site at www.stopabuse.com.