New Orleans hospital dedicates center named for Audrey Hepburn

A 15-month-old recovering from meningitis is visited Sunday by Dr. Scott Benton, left, singer Faith Hill and Emma and Scott Ferrer, the granddaughter and son of Audrey Hepburn, at a center named for the late actress at Children's Hospital in New Orleans.

Both Singers and Actresses (l to r) Jennifer Love Hewitt and Faith Hill smile after unveiling a plaque in memory of actress Audrey Hepburn in the Audrey Hepburn Children's Evaluation Center at Children's Hospital in New Orleans.

Advocate staff photos by Mark Saltz

by Emily Kern @ ekern@theadvocate.com - Westside bureau

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- Country singer-actress Faith Hill suspects her parents may have shielded her as a youngster in Mississippi from hearing stories of child abuse. That, Hill said, or the subject was so taboo that no one talked about it.

Now, Hill is using her superstar status to bring the issue to the forefront.

Hill, singer-actress Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sean Hepburn Ferrer, son of the late Audrey Hepburn, were among the hundred or so people gathered at Children's Hospital in New Orleans Sunday for the dedication of the Audrey Hepburn Children at Risk Evaluation Center. Ferrer is the founder/chairman of the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund.

The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund and the International House Hotel have partnered to provide funding for the CARE Center on an on-going basis.

The CARE Center is Louisiana's leading facility for the evaluation, treatment and protection of the region's abused and neglected children and is one of three similar centers in the country.

Hill is the center's "Godmother," while Hewitt is the "Godmother" of a similar program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The third center is in New York and its "Godmother" is actress Natalie Portman.

"As I've gotten older, I've certainly become aware of many cases," Hill said during an interview after the dedication ceremony. "I've met children who've been abused. I've seen the effects and it's more than heartbreaking."

"It's very difficult to talk about," Hill added. "It's very difficult to accept."

The 36-year-old singer is married to country star Tim McGraw and they have three daughters, ages 7, 5 and 2.

"There is only one thing in this world that matters," Hill said. "Showing each child that they are loved and that they matter."

As for the specifics of her "Godmother" role, Hill said, "Where do you start? There's so many levels, so many ways to aid a child that's been abused."

Ferrer said he offers the role to celebrities with no strings attached. He said he is more concerned with the person's intentions than her specific plans.

"I know she (Hill) is coming from a very special place," Ferrer said. "Her intentions are as pure as they can be. That's all I care about."

Children's Hospital spokeswoman Tiffany Bleichner said being associated with Audrey Hepburn and with celebrities like Hill and Hewitt should only help the center and its goal to improve the quality of life for children at risk.

That help can come in the form of more funding to expand services, like hiring more doctors and increasing outreach statewide, Bleichner said.

Bleichner said the CARE center serves about 1,000 children each year, many of whom are suffering from a "failure to thrive." The medical diagnoses include children who are near death from starvation, she said. Other children evaluated at the center may have burns from cigarettes or irons, or have unexplained bruises or bone fractures.

"The staff here is trained to identify potential cases of abuse," Bleichner said. "Even if there's some doubt, they will be evaluated."

The center's director, Dr. Scott Benton, said he agrees with the Bleichner about the value of celebrity.

"Any time you have movie stars, people of privilege, who associate their names, their money, that's a great benefit," Benton said.

Hill said she would have accepted the role of "Godmother" in any city, but the fact that the site is New Orleans is even more meaningful. Hill is from Mississippi and her husband is from Louisiana.

"It's especially meaningful that it's in the South," she said.