A Living Memorial to Child Victims of Violence

Please click on the link below to visit the individual state's Tenderness Trail. The "Sanctuary Without Borders" is a trail for those children where we've been unable to identify the appropriate trail, however, we have verified that they should be listed. Click on "International" to go to a the page listing all other nation's trails.
 

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. District of Columbia
10.Florida
11. Georgia
12. Hawaii
13. Idaho
14. Illinois
15. Indiana
16. Iowa
17. Kansas
18. Kentucky
19. Louisiana
20. Maine
21. Maryland
22. Massachusetts
23. Michigan
24. Minnesota
25. Mississippi
26. Missouri
27. Montana
28. Nebraska
29. Nevada
30. New Hampshire
31. New Jersey
32. New Mexico 
33. New York
34. North Carolina
35. North Dakota
36. Ohio
37. Oklahoma
38. Oregon
39. Pennsylvania
40. Puerto Rico
41. Rhode Island
42. South Carolina
43. South Dakota
44. Tennessee
45. Texas
46. Utah
47. Vermont
48. Virginia
49. Washington
50. West Virginia
51. Wisconsin
52. Wyoming
53. US Sanctuary Without Borders
54. International

What is The Tenderness Trail?

  On October 8, 1989 I embarked on the 1st "Tenderness Tour," a 41-day, 1086 mile wheelchair tour of the state of Indiana designed to raise awareness and funds on behalf of organizations working to end child abuse in Indiana. I never imagined at that time that this one event, which began out of my own attempt to recover from childhood violence in my own life, would lead to a lifetime of dedication to ending violence in the lives of children.

  Since 1989, I have traveled over 3,000 miles by wheelchair and raised over a quarter of a million dollars for children's organizations worldwide. Despite my years on the road and working as a grassroots activist in this area, I am still devastated each and every time I hear of about another child homicide, a war, a mass killing, child abuse, domestic violence or any of the other myriad of ways we seem to find as a society to harm our children.
  
     "The Tenderness Trail" is a simple project, really. It is my effort to honor the lives of child victims of violence worldwide by giving them a permanent place on the web in which their stories can be told and/or their lives can be acknowledged. Listing on the "Tenderness Trail" is always free of charge for every child, and we are working to develop an even more tangible way to memorialize our children.
  
     I envision "The Tenderness Trail" to be the internet's most comprehensive, global look at violence in the lives of children. "The Tenderness Trail" is a place to pray, a place to plan, a place to act, a place to learn, a place to heal and a place to grow.
 
     It is my vision that "The Tenderness Trail" serve as a bridge globally...to enhance cultural understanding, empower communities and peacefully tear down walls of indifference, apathy and hopelessness.
 
     "The Tenderness Trail" is a collection of hundreds of pages...one for each state in the United States, and one for each nation of the world. Each page(s) will include, minimally:
  •  As comprehensive as humanly possible, a listing of children who have died as a result of violence. When actual identities are not known, an attempt is made to document the impact of community issues such as war, civil disobedience and other issues of violence. When possible, a link is provided to offer more information on each child.

  • A comprehensive listing of community leaders, civic organizations and other referral sources.

  • A "State of the Children" report offering a comprehensive look at both strengths and weaknesses for the state and/or nation in question. This may, at times, include pending legislation, national issues, humanitarian crises, etc.

The "Tenderness Trail" is a challenging website, because it vividly and honestly documents our inhumanity, cruelty and violence towards children. I believe, however, that this project is vital. It is vital that we honor and respect the lives of the children we have lost, confess our sins and commit to creating a peaceful home for every child.

Sincerely,

Richard Propes
Founder/Director
The Tenderness Trail

Tenderness Trail Info Line
       The Tenderness Trail is the largest online memorial dedicated to child victims of violence. If you are aware of a child who has died as a result of violence or have corrections on children already listed, please either e-mail us the information or call the Tenderness Trail Information Line at (317) 691-5692 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (the vast majority of the time it will go directly to voice mail).
      We also welcome correct information for those children listed on the "USA" wall for which we have been unable to locate their home state.
      When calling, please leave the child's name, age, residence and date of death. We try hard to make all updates within 24 hours. If you need a returned phone call, please leave your name and phone number with a detailed message as to the purpose of the call. Please note that due to the sensitive nature of this website, all information will be verified.

 E-Mail the Tenderness Trail
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