In recognition of 20 years of working together to keep children safe from harm, Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) will host a gala on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m., at The Carltun in Eisenhower Park.

A featured guest is Bill O'Reilly, anchor/host of The O'Reilly Factor, whose advocacy to prevent child abuse will be saluted. Hailing from Long Island, O'Reilly is an award-winning news correspondent, anchor and author who began his career as a high school history teacher.

O'Reilly, a native of Levittown, joined FOX News Channel (FNC) as the anchor/host of The O'Reilly Factor in 1996. The show, which airs from 8 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday has caused the powerful in America to duck for cover as the rigidly enforced No Spin Zone deals with the nation's most important issues in a straightforward and provocative manner. From humble beginnings on Long Island, O'Reilly has risen to become the "new pope of TV journalism," according to television critic Marvin Kitman. In 2000, The Factor (as O'Reilly refers to it) passed Larry King Live to become the number one cable news program in the United States. Both of O'Reilly's non-fiction books, The O'Reilly Factor and The No Spin Zone were number one on The New York Times bestseller list. His novel Those Who Trespass has been optioned for the screen by Mel Gibson's Icon Productions.

While growing up, O'Reilly had no idea that journalism would be his calling. He lived in a modest house with his father, mother and sister in Levittown. O'Reilly began working in his early teens mowing lawns, which evolved into a house painting business. Upon graduating from Marist College in Poughkeepsie with a degree in history, he taught high school for two years in Miami. O'Reilly returned to school to pursue a master's in broadcast journalism from Boston University.

After receiving his master's degree, O'Reilly began his television news career in Scranton, PA, followed by stops in Dallas, Denver, Portland, Oregon, Hartford and Boston. In 1980, he anchored his own program on WCBS-TV in New York and later became a CBS News correspondent covering the wars in El Salvador and the Falkland Islands, among other assignments. In 1986, O'Reilly joined ABC News as a correspondent on The World News Tonight. During his three-year tenure, he appeared on the show more than 100 times and received two Emmy Awards and two National Headliner Awards for excellence in reporting.

O'Reilly's career changed in 1989 when he joined the nationally syndicated show, Inside Edition as senior correspondent and backup anchor. Within three weeks, he took over the anchor chair and during his six years at Inside Edition, the show was one of the highest rated "infotainment" programs in the country. In 1995, O'Reilly left to enroll in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he received a master's degree in public policy. Upon leaving Harvard, Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of the then startup FOX News Channel, hired O'Reilly to anchor The O'Reilly Factor.

In addition to his duties at FOX News Channel, O'Reilly authors a weekly syndicated column that is carried in about 200 newspapers across the country. He continues to live on Long Island where his best friends are those with whom he attended first grade.

In addition to honoring O'Reilly, the celebration will also honor CAPS past presidents and Executive Director Alane Fagin's 20 years of stellar leadership. Sumptuous fare, fine music and a fabulous array of silent auction gifts will be offered for the expected 350 guests. Tickets are $225 apiece with proceeds geared to enhancing CAPS education programs on child abuse and safety. For reservations and information, call 516-621-0552.

Founded in 1982 by the Junior League of Long Island and headquartered in Roslyn, CAPS is Long Island's comprehensive resource center for the prevention of child abuse and the promotion of child safety and child protection. Information about programs, educational materials and volunteer opportunities can be obtained from Child Abuse Prevention Services, PO Box 176, Roslyn, NY 11576, 516-621-0552, Fax: 516-621-3767, website: www.kidsafe-caps.org, e-mail: caps4kids@aol.com