Two decades ago, his deceit was masterful and successful. Keith Dygert, who said he was abused as a child at Kanakuk Kamps near Branson, testified in support of a bill to extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 13, 2023 (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent). My son-in-law did a fantastic job running the nursery and toddler room at one of the largest churches in the country! We told Pete he could no longer work at Kamp and that he needed to leave Branson that day, Cooper said. With the release of the new articles, former Kanakuk campers, staff and sexual abuse survivors have come forward from cities that include Dallas and Amarillo, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Nashville, Tenn.; and Fayetteville, Ark. My venting is due to some examples I experienced (not personally) where the men over looked evil when they should have stepped up to the plate. Two members of Neugebauers family have corroborated the details of his account and tell me they were told of his efforts contemporaneously: his wife and his father, who is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The current system is one we know and that were working with. The stories were republished the next day by USA Today. This petition makes three simple pleas in line with longstanding best-practices for responding to policy breaches and abuse allegations: 1. Our primary focus has been to ensure victims have the support they need to heal and recover, and we continue to work tirelessly to ensure this never happens again at Kanakuk. But he didnt survive past the age of 29, so now I refer to him as a victim, and Im trying to be his voice., Former camper suing Missouri-based Kanakuk claiming fraudulent abuse settlement. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Kanakuk also fully supported the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of the abuser Pete Newman. We want victims to know that their voices are heard and that we will never stop being sorry for the pain inflicted upon them by these perpetrators. Newman. This new information adds to the alreadysubstantial body of evidencethat camp leaders sought to downplay evidence of wrongdoing, even if doing so added to the trauma of those whod been abused and made additional camper abuse more likely. How many victims have to die before the camp is held accountable? In May, a camp director told Kanakuk employees that Newman was dealing with hyper-sensitive parental complaints about hugging but would return soon. Keith Dygert, who said he was abused by Newman, reached a settlement with a non-disclosure agreement at a time when only a small portion of the story was actually known, he testified. OnApril 23, a Kanakuk attorney offered to meet with Taney County officials. The true fact is that this group is not interested in anything more than furthering their agenda. Weve traveled the country openly sharing what happened here and the steps weve taken to help prevent this from occurring again. He was silenced to his grave. Survivor advocates also say that the consequences are still playing out today. Neugebauerbelieving the retreat would be beneficial for the boyallowed him to use his frequent flier miles to make the trip more affordable. The fact is that neither Joe nor Petes immediate supervisors would have ever allowed him to remain on staff if they suspected him of abusing kids. Kanakuk continues to be transparent about the events that occurred over a decade ago, and the steps weve taken to ensure such deceptive behavior doesnt happen here again. Neugebauer noted that White did not have what he perceived to be the normal reactions of a person learning of the abuse for the first time, because White did not want to involve law enforcement. Kanakuk is an immense operation. We were wrong in our understanding of the language of many of these agreements, and we failed to recognize the restrictions both real and perceived that many victims are under. Pete Newman is serving two life sentences plus 30 years. The USA Today piece, " Survivors, ex-employees say Kanakuk Christian camp 'ministered' to its sexual predators ," reveals several new cases of abuse of children at the hands of Kanakuk staff and even other campers spanning decades, apparent dismissals and cover-ups of cases, and gross mishandling of reports that - from the evidence available - Our CPP is woven throughout the organization and impacts almost every aspect of our operations. 11 Springfield News-Leader. The actions of Pete Newman are devastating to hear and stand counter to Kanakuks values and mission. BRANSON, Mo., April 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new website has launched dedicated to creating greater awareness of sexual abuse that occurred at the . We also documented Kanakuks lack of action, even after several parental complaints. USA Today has a print and digital daily readership of approximately 2.6 million. For years, a former staffer at Kanakuk Kamps, one of the country's most popular Christian summer camps, abused dozens of boys. Following an investigative piece published in March 2021 by David and Nancy French in The Dispatch, there have been at least two additional deep-dive investigative pieces published detailing the abuse and efforts to curtail discussion of crimes at Kanakuk CBS 11 and VICE NIGHTLY NEWS with extensive testimony from sexual abuse survivors and/or former employees of Kanakuk Kamps. More:It was just a thing at Kanakuk: Campers and staff say nudity was part of camp culture. But I was shocked at the amount of money Joe wanted the nonprofit to pay him for the camp, Neugebauer said. With annual revenue topping $30 million, Kanakuk Kamps is one of the largest evangelical ministries in the nation and claims to have hosted 500,000 campers from all 50 states and 10 countries since its founding in 1926. An investigation by journalists Nancy and David French, who called Kanakuk the worst Christian sex abuse scandal youve never heard of, first reported Kanakuks alleged early knowledge of Newmans behavior. My impression after my interactions with the camp was this, he told me during a phone interview. Furthermore, Kanakuk continues to offer support to victims, including providing independent counseling if desired. Yes, we had background checks and other precautions in place. In December 2021, The Dispatch published an article that disclosed to the Kanakuk survivor community and general public for the first time that Newman's direct supervisor, Will Cunningham, had, in fact, recommended Newman's termination in 2003 upon receiving more reports of Newman's ongoing sexual abuse of children. Ironically, their Contact page discloses that their information is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date. Sadly, in todays 24/7, monetized news industry, copy-paste journalism allows for this type of misinformation to be spread quickly and without merit [Proverbs 17:4]. Sadly, many have been pulled into the deceptive and false narratives that are being spread. A documentary made by VICE News about the alleged sexual abuse cases at Kanakuk camps in southwest Missouri won a 2022 Emmy, Allegations that popular Christian singer-songwriter Chris Rice sexually assaulted an older teen are credible, according to a report by leading victim advocacy, Young Lifeone of the nations largest youth ministries, involving more than 400,000 youth and 55,000 staff and volunteersis being accused of ignoring. Yandell and his parents reached a civil settlement with Kanakuk in 2010 regarding abuse Yandell suffered at the hands of Newman, who is now in prison on two life sentences for sexually abusing multiple children at the evangelical summer camp. What was the camps response? Newman confessed to his superiors at the camp, and Kanakuk later fired him. pete newman kanakuk wife pete newman kanakuk wife (No Ratings Yet) . Shockingly, as a source of information, the NCOSE relied upon a website (run by an anonymous LLC) that claims to share facts but buries the following notice on their Contact page: The material [on this website] is for informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date., Unfortunately, incomplete information on this anonymous website, coupled with inaccuracies reported by several authors and bloggers, have allowed the NCOSE to make the monumental leap from Kanakuk having reported an employee for abuse, to declaring Kanakuk as a mainstream entity for facilitating, enabling, and profiting from abuse and exploitation this is simply not true. and are interested in counseling, legal resources, or to connect with other survivors, First Baptist Church West Plains breaks ministry partnership with Kankauk over evidence of harm to children, Watch Kanakuk leadership testifying in depositions for the Pete Newman trial making it clear they knew great harms were being committed against children for several years, Survivors, ex-employees say Kanakuk Christian camp ministered to its sexual predators, Read a more extensive account of what the new investigations expose here, USA Today investigative series lead piece: "Survivors, ex-employees say Kankuk Christin camp 'ministered' to its sexual predators, History of Correspondence between NCOSE and Kanakuk, Decades of child sexual abuse reports show that Kanakuk Kamps ignored or covered up this evidence. I had heard multiple, conflicting accounts of the events that led to Newmans confession: While that original article was filled with detailed reporting from court records, depositions, dozens of interviews with victims and their advocates, and recorded conversations with individuals involved with the camp and with knowledge of the history of inappropriate conduct, we couldnt provide a corroborated account of what, exactly, led to Newmans confession. There is so much abuse in The Church, I dont blame anyone for not wanting their children exposed to any ministry program. These actions were against Kanakuk policies, and the individual was immediately terminated, reported to authorities, and ultimately convicted of abusing campers. Kanakuk will continue to support the right of victims to share their stories and will seek restoration and healing for victims through constructive dialogue (Matthew 18:15-17). Branson-based Kanakuk Kamps and its associated ministries area multi-million-dollar global enterprise that includes the largest evangelical sports camp in the world. However, survivor advocates say that many of the camps leaders, including Joe White, Kanakuks CEO and board chair, have never been held fully responsible for their leadership failures. Kanakuk will continue to apply and evaluate our safety practices to help keep Kamp safe and fun for all. In 2011, the CPP plan enabled Kanakuk to swiftly identify a second abuser, terminate his employment, report him, and coordinate with law enforcement. In 2003, Kanakuk had used this accountability strategy with Newman after the camp discovered hed been swimming and four-wheeling nude with campers and had received parental complaints. Kanakuk has said these men were fired and reported to law enforcement as soon as the abuse came to light. The e-mail did not mention Newmans sex abuse, law enforcement, or any investigations. The abuse from 2 men was horrific and Im grateful they are serving time. He believed other predators could be at the camp, as well as other victims. However, we couldnt report with precision why Newman finally confessed to abusing children and said so in that original story. New allegations of child sexual abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, Kanakuk Kamps Must Be Held Accountable for Systemic Sexual Abuse, Myriad Survivors Reveal Years of Hidden Institutional Abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, STATEMENT Kanakuk Kamp Leaders Must Be Held Accountable for Child Sexual Abuse. Newman confessed after a Texas Kanakuk father confronted Newman and threatened to call the FBI. The child she named was the same child Neugebauer helped send on the ill-fated retreat. #ProtectChildren #ListenToSurvivors Click To Tweet, Kanakuk Kamps has responded to only one investigation report, and they didnt even recognize their role in allowing the abuse to continue. (Neugebauer confirmed the dates by combing through archived emails; Neugebauers wife, Melissa, corroborated the timing of these events by consulting her journals from that period.). Their lengthy investigation determined that no other Kanakuk employee or leadership member was aware of Mr. Newmans illegal activities. By: Clara Bates - February 14, 2023 1:35 pm If you are a survivor of sexual abuse at Kanakuk Kamps and are interested in counseling, legal resources, or to connect with other survivors, FactsAboutKanakuk.com can help you here. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Kanakuk leadership has consistently said it was not complicit in the sexual abuse perpetrated by Newman and Lee Bradberry (a Kanakuk counselor who pleaded guilty in 2013 to four sex-related charges involving campers at Kanakukbefore he wasfired in 2011). In Friday's lawsuit, the family claims they only agreed to the settlement terms because Kanakuk leadership lied about having no prior knowledge of Newman's sexual exploitation of children. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Our Kanakuk Child Protection Plan, which contains over 340 identifiable and measurable protective elements, is integrated throughout our organization and has been shared with more than 600 youth-serving organizations across the country. Kamp Type Children Kampers Select Equipping Next Generation Leaders Since 1926 Explore our summer Kamps #iLikeKanakuk Kanakuk gives my kids experiences they can't get anywhere else. Newmans accountability approach to wrongdoing had been used before. But by the time new evidence was uncovered through national media investigations, Hoffpauir was too old to file a civil suit against the camp and its leadership. We are humbled and grateful when we can have direct conversations. I took Pete to New York with [Newmans wife]. Retrieved from Tragically, we live in a broken, fallen world [Romans 3:23], and saw evidence of that when former Kanakuk employees violated the sacred trust that we and our camp families placed in them through actions that stand counter to our mission and values. For years, a former staffer at Kanakuk Kamps, one of the country's most popular Christian summer camps, abused dozens of boys. Newman was a camp counselor and director of father-son retreats at Kanakuk Kamps. Any victim can reach out to us at victimsupport@kanakuk.com or access several independent victim advocacy organizations such as ChildHelp.org or Rainn.org which can provide access to local support services, reporting assistance, and educational resources. While free to share their story, the specific terms of the settlement agreement must remain confidential. Our hope is that every single one would leave Kanakuk with a desire to live the Im Third lifestyle, placing God first, others second, and themselves third. We look forward to the next century of building next-generation leaders. 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According to the nonprofit child protection advocacy group. More to the point is the echoing in church organisations of worldly power structures. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. Newman and Kanakuk Kamps founder and president Joe White are also defendants in the suit. Attorney Ben Bull, who leads theNational Center on Sexual Exploitations Law Center (which fights child sexual abuse, illegal pornography, sex trafficking, and other forms of sexual abuse and exploitation) agrees the FBI should investigate. #ProtectChildren Click To Tweet, @Kanakuk, release survivors from their NDAs so that they may speak about the childhood sexual abuse they endured at your camp. Every summer, parents entrust 20,000 children to leadership with ahistory of turning a blind eye to predation, because there was no way of easily discovering the history. At least two men have gone to prison for crimes committed while they were Kanakuk counselors. After serving more than 30 years in the K-1 ministry at two different churches I saw tremendous value in males serving our children. Additionally, Kanakuk set out to elevate our safety practices, which resulted in the Kanakuk Child Protection Plan (the CPP). Pete Newman is the most thorough relationship builder with kids in Kanakuk history, Joe White once said in advertising for a father-son retreat. Red flag. He tells us that he confronted Pete Newman directly and afterward had a series of disturbing conversations with Joe White. , sponsored by Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, would extend the statute of limitations for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, allowing survivors to file civil action until they turn 55 years old. We took his cell phone, his computer, his files and locked his office.. Neugebauer told me he did not believe that strategy would deal with Newmans predation effectively. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. At the time I just thought he found it hilarious, but in reality, what he did with that footage was probably really malicious.. Weve said it before, and we will say it again, we are forever sorry for the pain inflicted on victims and their families. Enough is enough! Claiming things like Kanakuk continues to fail on basic safety practices and protocols and stating that Kanakuk ..ignores other known perpetrators and their enablers, including those in leadership at Kanakuk to this day. They distort the truth, promote false narratives, and harass individuals who oppose them. While we could never keep up with all of our alumni family, we know the vast majority of them have left Kanakuk and gone on to raise amazing families and serve their communities through careers in full-time ministry, law, medicine, science, civil service, teaching, military service, and professional sports. Elizabeth Phillips traveled from Texas to testify on behalf of her brother, Trey Carlock, who reached a settlement with Kanakuk after being abused by Newman, and died by suicide at age 29. Christ inverts them where we are all servants of each other. Every childs safety is our No. This camp helped grown their relationship with the Lord & supported their faith walk. Its a critical necessity for their healing and restoration. So is 55 a reasonable timeframe to push that back? A now-27-year-old man who was sexually abused as a child at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson is suing the Christian summer camp, claiming Kanakuk leadership lied to him and his parents about their. Or is your son over there or is he supposed to be? This maternal concern is what she believed forced Petes confession, but she wasnt sure. New Evidence Emerges: Kanakuk Kamp Blocked an Effort to Fire an Employee Later Revealed To Be a Serial Child Abuser Pete Newman's supervisor recommended he be fired in 2003, according to sources. This was and is a violation of trust, and ultimately a failure of leadership. Each person who spoke with the CBS 11 I-Team says he or she, or a family member of his or hers, was sexually abused at Kanakuk Kamps sometime between 1999 and 2008. "Our focus right now is on Logans case," Martens said. White is still the head of the camp today. A Kanakuk employee told me an attorney recorded a phone call with Pete during which the counselor made incriminating statements. Eleven years ago, former Kanakuk director Pete Newman was imprisoned for sexually abusing boys at the popular Christian summer camp, but recent reports and petitions say more child sex abuse is hidden from the public. Extensive reporting on Kanakuk published in the News-Leader in May further described how Kanakuk leaders failed to act on knowledge of Newman's inappropriate sexual behavior, while detailing alleged sexual abuse by other former Kanakuk staff. conservative online news outlet The Dispatch, Survivors, ex-employees say unreported abuse at Kanakuk camps in Branson spans decades, It was just a thing at Kanakuk: Campers and staff say nudity was part of camp culture, Kanakuk camper says she was told to apologize, denied call home after reporting abuse, Kanakuk's statement provided in response to the News-Leader's questions, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. [Letter From Joe White]. Worked as college interns. A different victims parentin a police statement dated July 2, 2009said Newmans supervisor Kris Cooper. We believe that abuse of a child is deplorable and stands counter to our mission and Christian calling. Pete Newman was protected and promoted despite clear reports of sexually abusive behavior, making it extremely unlikely that he was acting alone.. But it was not just one scoutmaster and it was never just one priest, Neugebauer told me, referring to the massive sex abuse cover-ups in the Boy Scouts and the Catholic Church. As a world leader among Christian summer camps, Kanakuk provides children with fun, safe and professional outdoor youth camping experiences that grow them spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially. We believe that abuse of a child is deplorable and stands counter to our mission and Christian calling. The lawsuit says that because of these substantial facts coming to light after Yandell's original settlement, Yandell is entitled to further damages due to Kanakuk's fraud. As I sought out legal action in an effort to hold my enablers accountable, I was crushed to find out I was a few years past Missouris statute of limitations, Hoffpauir said. We believe that victims of abuse should be free to share their stories in support of their healing. However, no camp leadership has resigned, been fired, or been held accountable for their inaction towards adecade of Newmans nudity and parental complaints, even though they promoted Newman and made him the focal point of promotional materials. Im now a 45 year old woman with what I consider to be great strength, and it takes a lot of courage to get up here today and say this. You a guy all excited about children ministry or K-4 as a teacher. CBS News Texas: Free 24/7 News . Kanakuk Kamps, headquartered in Branson, Mo., begins camp terms next week and plans to host 20,000 children this summer. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. By Nancy French and David French Dec 23, 2021 90 One victims family told me that Pete Newman had solicited nude photos of their sons genitalia, which the young boy provided. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. There are many false narratives circulating online, including one that states Kanakuk has employed other abusers. The fact is that Kanakuk has employed over 50,000 full-time and summer staff over the past 96 years. (Newman later admitted to abusing at least one boy on this trip. Click To Tweet, Due to the graphic nature of the descriptions & images found in this proof, we've compiled them into a PDF document, Child Sexual Abuse Encompasses a Wide Spectrum of Sexual Acts Enacted on People Below Eighteen Years of Age, investigative piece published in March 2021, , there have been at least two additional deep-dive investigative pieces published detailing the abuse and efforts to curtail discussion of, sexual abuse survivors and/or former employees of, . We absolutely want to clarify this. "Kanakuk actively concealed what they knew about the sexual abuse being perpetrated by Pete Newman and induced victims and survivors into settlements and NDAs, said Robert Thrasher, one of Yandell's attorneys, in a news release. It was just one time.. In addition to uncovering information about the circumstances of Newmans confession to the camp, Ive also received information indicating that Newman may have created child pornography of nude and sexualized images of Kanakuk kids. OnMarch 27,Kris Cooper began calling victims families to alert them of the abuse. The law was telling me there was nothing to be done about it, and the clock had run out on me.. Pete Newman, who had been a Kanakuk Kamps director, was convicted in 2010 on seven counts of sexually abusing young boys and is now serving two consecutive life sentences plus 30 years. Our desire is to support victims and help them in their healing journey. Kanakuk is a great place, a special place. To donate, Documentary On Sexual Abuse Allegations At Christian Camp Kanakuk Wins Emmy, GRACE Finds Sex Abuse Allegations Against Chris Rice Credible, Young Life Accused of Ignoring or Covering Up Allegations of Sexual Misconduct, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. More:Kanakuk's statement provided in response to the News-Leader's questions. They reflect the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of other survivors or No More Victims, LLC. A representative for Kanakuk did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but declined to comment on similar allegations late last year, and said that we continue to pray for all who have been affected by Pete Newmans behavior., Dygert relayed a message to the committee, too: One victims mother asked me, and I quote, Please let the committee know how many people this will help, that feel like they have no voice and no help from those that hurt them.. I was in advanced discussions with them. Kanakuk abuse survivors urge Missouri lawmakers to extend statute of limitations The House judiciary committee on Monday heard public testimony on a bill that would give childhood sexual abuse survivors the ability to file a civil claim up to age 55. We are listening and will communicate more carefully. Former Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell, the person who ultimately prosecuted Newman, does not recall what was foundif anythingon these devices. As a child growing up in Branson, Hoffpauir was involved with Kanakuks youth ministries, and said he was abused by Kanakuk director Pete Newman from 1999 to 2003. The FBI should be all over this like a glove., In an email, attorney and author Rachael Denhollandertheformer gymnast who blew the whistle on Larry Nassarand has since become a leading voice on the topic of sexual abusewrote, The level of abuse and cover-up that has taken place at Kanakuk is extreme and follows well-established patterns of organized trafficking and production of child sexually abusive material (child porn). She also wrote, A detailed investigation not just of the abuse, but of the cover-up, needs to be undertaken immediately. Our policy is not to comment on pending litigation. Some of the greatest people I know have worked there., Neugebauers involvement in the camp increased to the point where he says he discussed a plan with White to extend the camps legacy, provide a retirement plan for the Whites, and help find White a successor. Newmans abuse impacted so many people, Whites former secretary Vicki Morgan said in a phone interview. Many lives exposed to the Gospel. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Unfortunately, as often happens today, social media and online reporting have allowed myth to be presented as facts. Salacious statements and careful edits of leaked deposition videos generate clicks and website traffic, while logic is suspended, and critical questions are ignored. The USA Today piece, Survivors, ex-employees say Kanakuk Christian camp ministered to its sexual predators, reveals several new cases of abuse of children at the hands of Kanakuk staff and even other campers spanning decades, apparent dismissals and cover-ups of cases, and gross mishandling of reports that from the evidence available seem to prioritize protecting Kanakuk and predators over young victims and grown survivors. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. For them to pursue such actions would be unfortunate, but Kanakuk has been transparent and has nothing to hide, and the perpetrators have long since been imprisoned. Our problem wasnt a lack of information, it was an abundance. There also seems to be a problem with recruitment screening. She added, A few days before my brother died, he told a therapist, They are always going to control me and Ill never be free, she said. Neugebauer also said White argued that if Neugebauers family or the boys family went against Kanakuk, they would be doing the devils bidding., They always used the same line, he said, that I was doing the devils bidding.. (Photo- Keith Dygert, who said he was abused as a child at Kanakuk Kamps near Branson, testified in support of a bill to extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse survivors in front of the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 13, 2023- Clara Bates/Missouri Independent). 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On the ill-fated retreat plans to host 20,000 children this summer more: Kanakuk 's provided! Line with longstanding best-practices for responding to policy breaches and abuse allegations: 1 many have pulled! And toddler room at one of the abuse determined that no other Kanakuk employee leadership... The specific terms of the abuse, law enforcement investigation and prosecution of cover-up... A police statement dated July 2, 2009said Newmans supervisor Kris Cooper began calling victims families alert. Also defendants in the suit report with precision why Newman finally confessed to superiors., does not recall what was foundif anythingon these devices we believe that abuse of a child deplorable! Later fired him stories in support of their healing and restoration by USA today a! On the ill-fated retreat, Cooper said the steps weve taken to help keep Kamp safe and for... Or is your son over there or is he supposed to be correct, complete, or any.. Shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site our and! To support victims and help them in their healing journey also defendants in suit!, I dont blame anyone for not wanting their children exposed to any program... Julie and get updates in your inbox after my interactions with the Lord & supported their faith walk building leaders. Wasnt sure they distort the truth, promote false narratives circulating online, including one that Kanakuk! Responding to policy breaches and abuse allegations: 1 the settlement agreement must remain confidential for a father-son..
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