Polly Klaas Foundation

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The Polly Klaas Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity organization devoted to preventing crimes against children, assisting in the recovery of missing children, and lobbying for legislative assistance. The foundation was formed October 23, 1993 to search for Polly Klaas. Its executive director is Robert De Leo[1]. It has expanded its mission and now searches for many missing children.

The Polly Klaas Foundation also provides kits for parents to teach abduction prevention in a way that they claim isn't scary for kids[2]. It distributes over 100,000 of these kits per year[3]

The Polly Klaas Foundation worked with Convio to send targeted letters to stand and federal officials to implement Amber Alerts in all 50 states.

Marc Klaas, Polly's father, is not associated with this foundation. However, Polly's mother, Eve Nichol, serves on the board.

Contents

[edit] History

The Polly Klaas Foundation was created initially to search for Polly Klaas. After two years, the executive director, Gary Kinley, resigned with no explanation, and there was an analysis of financial problems in 1996[4]. The Polly Klaas Foundation has since recovered and learned a lot about fundraising. It has drastically increased its operating budget[5].

[edit] Internet predators

Part of the modernization of the Polly Klaas foundation is its focus on internet safety. The Polly Klaas Foundation encourages parents to follow three steps[6]:

  1. Learn the internet with your child and become familiar with what the dangers are
  2. Create expectations that you're going to monitor your child's internet activity
  3. Let your children know that no matter what happens they can come to you if they get into trouble on the internet

[edit] KlaasKids Foundation

The KlaasKids Foundation was founded in 1994 in order to help prevent crimes against children. That foundation is directed by, and is the official organization representing the opinions of, Polly's father, Marc Klaas. Klaas formed the new foundation to permit him to engage in advocacy for stronger sentences for violent offenders, which the Polly Klaas Foundation is prohibitted from doing.

[edit] Children

The featured children by the Polly Klaas Foundation that are missing include:

  • Jennipher Gingery
  • Kasey Shepard

[edit] See also

[edit] Related literature

  • Polly Klaas: The Murder of America's Child by Barry Bortnick, 1997.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Staying ahead of 'predators'
  2. ^ Take Action: Order your free Child Safety Kit today
  3. ^ Polly Klaas Foundation
  4. ^ Polly Klaas Foundation riddled with fiscal problems
  5. ^ Polly Klaas Foundation
  6. ^ Staying ahead of 'predators'

[edit] External links

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