Students display ribbons remember abused children in Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- In all, 6,360 ribbons are tied to the fence outside DePelchin Children's Center for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each one of them represents a child in Harris County who was abused in 2015.

"It's sad, it's sad to me. But I'm glad something is being done to help them. It's like a bittersweet thing -- it's sad that it's happening, but I'm glad but somebody is taking steps to make it better," said Steven Dunbar, a wide receiver for University of Houston football.

Dunbar, along with six of his teammates, tied ribbons to the fence Tuesday morning. Advocates for child abuse prevention say when people see tough guys like football players showing support, it makes a difference.

"To show that there are those in the community that really do care, those... who are role models, someone for children to look up to, it really helps families to know there are those in the community who care about them as well," said Atasha Kelley-Harris with DePelchin Children's Center.

Lone Star Sports and Entertainment donated $175,000 to DePelchin as part of their partnership with the AdvoCare Texas Bowl. To date, the company has donated $1 million to DePelchin. U of H faces University of Oklahoma in that game at NRG Stadium on September 3. Some of the proceeds will go towards the children's center.