Why Blue

A blue ribbon is an international symbol of Child Abuse Prevention. The color blue was chosen to represent the bruised and battered bodies of abused children.

When did the Blue Ribbon Campaign begin?

The Blue Ribbon Campaign had its early beginnings following the death of a very young child. In Spring 1989, Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother received the devastating news that her beloved grandson had died of injuries inflicted by his parents. In an expression of her grief and outrage, this grandmother tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van “to make people wonder” about the significance of the blue ribbon.

In Bonnie’s own words: “The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection of our children. Please wear a blue ribbon. Put one on your car. Give one to your friends. Tell them what it means. You may save a child’s life!”