Child Advocacy Center Recognizes Capital Campaign Co-Chairs and Donors

The Child Advocacy Center recognized the Our Children, Our Watch Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Retired District Attorney General Bill Whitesell and Kristin Demos of Demos Restaurants at the Hometown Heroes Walk for Children on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Murfreesboro Civic Plaza.

“Bill Whitesell and Kristin Demos are humble servant leaders who have a long history of supporting child abuse victims in our community. They both have spent decades making Rutherford and Cannon Counties a safer place for children and they have never desired any personal recognition for their efforts,” stated Child Advocacy Center director Sharon De Boer. “It has never been about them personally. It has always been about the children.”

The Child Advocacy Center is quickly approaching the finish line of the $3.1 million dollar capital campaign. The success of this campaign has been the incredible co-chairs Bill Whitesell and Kristin Demos.

Bill Whitesell: General Bill Whitesell served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Rutherford County for 15 years. When Guy Dotson retired in 1995, Whitesell was appointed District Attorney General of the 16th Judicial District by Governor Don Sunquist, and he served in that capacity for the next 19 years. He dedicated his career to keeping our community safe, and he was particularly concerned about crime victims. In 2000, he was the driving force behind the founding of the Child Advocacy Center and he has served on the Board of Directors for 26 years.

Kristin Demos: Kristin Demos of Demos Restaurants joined the Child Advocacy Center Board of Directors about 20 years ago. She started the first CAC fundraising event, the Rubber Duck Derby, where they raced little yellow plastic ducks down the Stones River. She chaired the event for seven years and earned the nickname, the “Queen of the Quackers.”

Bill and Kristin have been the dynamic duo during this capital campaign raising almost $3.1 million in less than a year, purchasing a medical building on Highland Terrace, where renovations are set to begin August 1, 2026. CAC Board President Dr. Trey Duke and director Sharon De Boer had the privilege to present Whitesell and Demos each with a gift to thank them for their years of service.

General Bill Whitesell was presented with a Mojo Bass St. Croix Rod and Lew’s Reel. Whitesell is an avid fisherman and he will enjoy that rod and reel on Center Hill Lake.

Kristin Demos was presented with a one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass vase donated by emerging local glass artist Jack Slifka, with beautiful flowers from Murfreesboro Flower Shop.

The Child Advocacy Center Board of Directors and staff, thanked Whitesell and Demos for their outstanding dedication to child abuse victims and their families.

Child Advocacy Center Capital Campaign Co-Chair Kristin Demos announced, “We are excited to announce that we are fast approaching the finish line of our $3.1 million capital campaign to purchase and renovate a new home for the Child Advocacy Center.” In February, the CAC purchased Dr. Garner’s office complex, strategically located on Highland Terrace, just down the street from the Murfreesboro Police Department. Fifty percent of the CAC cases are worked with Murfreesboro Police.

Demos continued, “This would not have been possible without the incredible support from our amazing community partners. The Child Advocacy Center is very grateful to the following contributors:

• Mayor Joe Carr, Rutherford County Commissioners, and Rutherford County Government,
• Heart of Rutherford Foundation and the Spivey Family,
• John Floyd Foundation, Ole South Properties, John and Gina Floyd,
• Christy Houston Foundation,
• Smyrna Ready Mix and the Hollingshead Family,
• Burgess Family Charitable Foundation,
• Bill and Lucy Whitesell
• Shane and Amanda Reeves,
• Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation,
• Child Advocacy Center Board of Directors
• Healing Trust Foundation,
• Andy and Cherry Womack
• John and Sharon Sant Amour and JP Morgan Stanley,
• Drs. Russ and Sherry Galloway,
• LaRoche Family Foundation
• Sherri Morgan, Tri Star Title & Escrow
• Charity Circle
• Peter and Kristin Demos
• Wendy LaLance White
• Child Advocacy Center Staff
• Community Donations
• For a total of $3,071,425 in donations.”

The CAC plans to begin the renovations on August 1, 2026. That date is fast approaching. Demos made an appeal to the audience to help the Child Advocacy Center reach their goal of $3.1 million by the August 1, 2026 deadline. It is not too late. YOU can still get involved and help make a difference in children’s lives by making a contribution to the CAC capital campaign renovations at givebutter.com/CACBuilds.

Demos thanked everyone who has helped the Child Advocacy Center make a difference in the lives of child abuse victims and their families the last 26 years and stated that, “We never could have done it without ALL OF YOU!”