Kudos

Ride for Missing Children; May 16 "SafetyFest"

Claudette Ferrone, assistant director of major gifts, and Brenda Marris, counselor for Counseling and Psychological Services, are  participating in the Ride for Missing Children - 2003, a 105-mile bicycle ride visiting schools throughout the Mohawk Valley on May 16.  The purpose of the Ride is to raise public awareness of the plight of all missing and exploited children and to raise funds to produce and mail posters of missing children to aid in their search and recovery.

"SafetyFest"

On May 16 at 5 p.m. community members are  invited to greet, meet and eat with the more than 200 riders at the New Hartford Recreation Center as they finish the 105 mile journey.  
"SafetyFest" activities include:
Children's photo I.Ds and fingerprinting
Child Safety exhibits by police, fire and local agencies
Reception for the friends, riders and supporters
Picnic style meal provided by Hannaford Bros. (Limited number of meal tickets available in advance and at the event with proceeds going to the NCMEC poster distribution and education programs.)
Bicycle raffle courtesy of Dick Sonne's Cycling and Fitness

The Mohawk Valley office of The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children distributes posters of missing children nationwide and provides a speakers bureau whose members avail themselves to educate local school children on abduction prevention.  Through the direct efforts of NCMEC Mohawk Valley, 2,000,000 posters of 707 missing children have been distributed since 1995 resulting in 409 successful recoveries. Overall, one out of six missing children, of whom photos are distributed by NCMEC, is eventually recovered.  Each month at Ride meetings participants hear of another happy ending as a result of a poster sent by the Mohawk Valley office. 

As a Friends of Missing Children, Ferrone and Marris have made a commitment to raise 4000 posters (at $0.25 each.) Please help the NCMEC - Mohawk Valley office send posters to aid in the recovery of our nation's missing children by making a contribution. Checks may be made payable to "NCMEC-Mohawk Valley" (Cash donations are also welcome!) Ferrone and Marris will be collecting donations through May 12.

Thank you for your support and for helping the Mohawk Valley office of the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children in its mission:  To make our children safer...one child at a time.