BENTONVILLE — Northwest Arkansas Community College officials are close to starting renovations on a building where people will be able to train in how to recognize and protect children from child abuse.

A campaign drive started in October 2011 to raise $3 million for the Southern Regional National Child Protection Training Center that will be at the college. The other child protection training center is at Winona State University in Minnesota.

More than $2.3 million has been raised, and nearly $800,000 is still needed for furnishings and technology, said Amy Benincosa, center development coordinator. Renovation of the former

Highlands Oncology building could start as early as February, Benincosa said. The center will include

a mock house, a courtroom, medical rooms and interview rooms.

“Toward the end of the year we are often thinking about what we can do for others, and this would be a great opportunity,” Benincosa said.

Ocean Spray Cranberry donated money for naming rights on a child-protection room at the center Friday.

Doug Heffron, director of sales for the company, said the purpose of the center is in keeping with the company’s values.

“This organization absolutely promotes healthy families, and as an organization that lives in Benton County it is important,” Heffron said.

“I think it is a noble effort to bring great education and awareness to the issue of child abuse.” International Unilever also recently donated money to the center.

“The hope is that Unilever and everyone else who has been generous with their donations really become an advocate against child abuse,” said Jim Breach, vice president and Wal-Mart Global team leader for Unilever.

The center also received some national attention with a bill introduced in the U.S.

Senate last week.

U.S. Sens. Mark Pryor and John Boozman of Arkansas and Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken of Minnesota introduced the National Child Protection Training Act bill.

Arkansas’ 3rd District U.S.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, co-sponsored companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill “aims to improve child abuse training programs and enhance child protection nationwide,” according to a news release.

David Thrasher, a member of the Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation, said support for the center in Bentonville is growing.

“I am very pleased that, No.

1, we were chosen and, No. 2, that we have stepped up and that we just about have this thing done,” Thrasher said.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 12/10/2012