FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Uvalde Foundation For Kids
(Charity ID 88-3268749)
9 June 2025
(National/Texas/Missouri)
National Nonprofit Says Hundreds Are Expected From Missouri, Indiana & As Far As Texas, June 23rd at 7pm; To Protest Missouri Daycare After a 3 Year Old Nonverbal, Autistic Child, Conrad Ashcraft, Died At The "Poppy's Playhouse," in Park Hills, Missouri. A 3 Day Hunger Fast To Bring Further Attention To The Case Was Launched By Several Students From The Uvalde Foundation For Kids In Texas, Tuesday; Escalating The Charity Groups Calls For Immediate Prosecution In The Case & For The Closure Of All "Poppy's Playhouse," Facilities.
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(JUNE 23RD PROTEST CANCELED DUE TO CURRENT INFORMATION & SCHEDULING CONFLICTS WITH ANOTHER PLANNED PROTEST.)
In an updated release Tuesday evening, The Uvalde Foundation For Kids, national student advocacy and violence prevention nonprofit, based in Texas; released that it will hold a formal protest, June 23rd 2024 7pm, at "Poppy's Playhouse," Deslodge, Missouri location, 312 North State Street, after the death last month of a nonverbal, autistic child, Conrad Ashcraft, while under the care of the facility's Park Hills location. The Foundation is calling for the closure of both locations. Students from the group have also launched a hunger strike to bring attention to the case, as of Tuesday evening.
- The foundation launched an independent investigation into the case involving the daycare shortly after the child's death & the Park Hills location has since had its license revoked. A second Deslodge location remains open at the time of the foundations latest release. The foundation has also presented a proposed bill draft to several Missouri House Representatives, including State representative, Cecelie Williams, who has vowed to sponsor the bill & is working on the foundations final draft proposal for presentation to the Missouri House.
Daniel Chapin, founder & national director of the charity formed in response to the May, 2022 Uvalde, Texas mass shooting; stated in Tuesday's release that it is clear based on its findings that there was, "Blatant disregard for the life of Conrad and extensive evidence pointing to the worker in question, methodically taking actions which directly resulted in the death of this precious child."
The case, according to foundation and local officials has been forwarded to the prosecutors office, who have been charged with further investigation and potential prosecution, although that has not occurred to date.
Chapin, who originally had asked for a halt in any community protest plans; released the following statement in the release, noting that, "We are tired of waiting for justice to be served. We are tired of delays and politically motivated, meally mouthed leaders in this community turning a deaf ear to this case. At this juncture, we have no guarantee that justice will be served, so we now act. The family has been more than patient. Ours, however has run out. We are particularly outraged that the facility as a whole has been allowed to continue operating placing more children in harms way. We have learned that the same behaviors which resulted in CONRADS death, are still being used at the Deslodge location. We did not want to protest but now it is time. We will speak out for Conrad.
Additionally, to continue to place well deserved pressure and attention to Conrads case, some members of our student Ambassador team have in fact initiated a hunger strike, which we are monitoring carefully. Our Foundation will continue to work to present and ultimately pass "Conrad's Law," to further ensure the safety of all Missouri children and moreso, forever engrave in the minds of "Missourians" who this young man was, should have become and the legacy he left behind."
- The Foundations release noted that it has previously held similar protests, including one challenging South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.keloland.com/news/local-news/uvalde-foundation-for-kids-protesting-gov-noem/amp/
and a hunger strike calling for the removal of law enforcement officials following the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/law-enforcement/uvalde-foundation-for-kids-launches-hunger-strike-calls-for-termination-of-uvalde-police-officers-department/273-52bad76d-43bd-4df4-8a67-77f08d303cd3
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Uvalde Foundation For Kids
(CHARITY # 88-3268749)
254 206 9089 or 254 499 8027
wixsite.com/theuvaldefoundationf