Donald Trump, billionaire, real estate mogul and Producer of the hit tv franchise, “The Apprentice” officially kicked off The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s national “I practice stranger safety” campaign with the release of his PSA. Starting on May 25, the 45 second PSA will air on stations across the United States.

“Stranger abduction is one of the fastest growing crimes in our nation. We need to proactively teach our children what to do if such a situation arises,” explained Mr. Trump. “The Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program is a terrific educational tool that parents and teachers can use to teach children the do’s and don’ts of stranger.”

Please join Mr. Trump and make your pledge to practice stranger safety by going to the curriculum page and downloading the stranger safety techniques to help empower and protect children around the world.

The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation has been experiencing record downloads since the announcement yesterday that Mr. Donald Trump would be delivering a public service announcement.  The “I Practice Stranger Safety” PSA made its debut on national television this afternoon.  Since then, the free Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Program has been downloaded more than 240 times in 5 countries!  Thank you Mr. Trump!

Please watch Mr. Trump’s PSA below and post, re-post, tweet, re-tweet, etc until every one of your friends on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In and all your email contacts have had a chance to see it.  Thank you for helping to spread the word – you are helping get a very important message out that could one day save a child’s life.

The Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program is a free educational curriculum designed to provide vital, proactive stranger safety awareness techniques to elementary-aged children. The program includes single-concept video shorts in conjunction with suggested lesson plans, written by teachers, for teachers, to actively involve children in their own safety as it relates to strangers.

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation

Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation

Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

The Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program is a free educational curriculum designed to provide vital, proactive stranger safety awareness techniques to elementary-aged children. The program includes single-concept video shorts in conjunction with suggested lesson plans, written by teachers, for teachers, to actively involve children in their own safety as it relates to strangers.

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation

Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

In just a few short hours, the video premiere of “I Practice Stranger Safety” will be launched by Mr. Donald Trump.  Mr. Trump will be discussing the importance of educating children about abduction BEFORE they are approached by a stranger.  I am very excited for the national kick off and I am asking everyone who views the YouTube video to please share it on your Facebook page, Twitter account and Linked-In account. If everyone shares the video and asks their friends to re-post & re-tweet, then the message about the free curriculum available to all parents and teachers can reach across the nation even faster! Please help create a viral video that can potentially help protect millions of children!

The Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program is a free educational curriculum designed to provide vital, proactive stranger safety awareness techniques to elementary-aged children. The program includes single-concept video shorts in conjunction with suggested lesson plans, written by teachers, for teachers, to actively involve children in their own safety as it relates to strangers.

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation

Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

On  behalf of The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation, I am very honored to announce that Mr. Donald Trump will launch the “I Practice Stranger Safety” public service campaign on Friday, May 25, 2012.  The goal of the new campaign is to bring more awareness to the urgent need to continually reinforce stranger safety techniques with children across the United States.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, over 21,700 children are abducted annually by strangers.  This statistic must be confronted with decisive action!  Sadly, there is no way to identify a child abductor before they strike.  There is, however, a useful method to inhibit the effectiveness of an abductor and that is by educating children BEFORE they may become victimized.

The Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program is a free educational curriculum designed to provide vital, proactive stranger safety awareness techniques to elementary-aged children. The program includes single-concept video shorts in conjunction with suggested lesson plans, written by teachers, for teachers, to actively involve children in their own safety as it relates to strangers.

Mr. Trump will be the first spokesperson for the foundation to state the new Rose Brucia phrase, “I Practice Stranger Safety”.

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation

Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

The Stranger Safety Awareness Program is a free educational curriculum designed to provide vital, proactive stranger safety awareness techniques to elementary-aged children.  The program includes single-concept video shorts in conjunction with suggested lesson plans, written by teachers, for teachers, to actively involve children in their own safety as it relates to strangers.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, each year, over 21,700 children are abducted by a stranger. Statistically speaking, that means that one child, per state, per day is taken.  The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce this number!

“Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Week is the perfect way to open a discussion about stranger safety right before the biggest stranger safety awareness event of the year: Halloween”, says Matthew J. Barbis, Founder & Chairman of The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation. “Our goal is to provide the five days for which our five, age-appropriate lessons can be introduced in elementary schools across New York State. Please go to www.rosebrucia.org/downloads to download your copy of these lessons, free of charge”.

Here is a copy of the actual legislation as found on http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/api/1.0/html/bill/K1252-2011

K1252-2011:Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 22-26, 2012, as Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Week in the State of New York

Sponsor: Graf / Multi-sponsor(s): Boyle, Ceretto, Crouch, Curran, Kolb, Losquadro, McDonough, Miller D, Miller M, Montesano, Murray, Ra, Raia, Smardz, Tenney
Law Section: Resolutions, Legislative

LEGISLATIVE   RESOLUTION  memorializing  Governor  Andrew  M.  Cuomo  to
 proclaim October 22-26, 2012, as Rose Brucia Stranger  Safety  Awareness
 Week in the State of New York
 WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing official
 weeks  established  to  increase awareness of serious issues that affect
 the lives of all New Yorkers; and
 WHEREAS, It is the sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  to  memorialize
 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 22-26, 2012, as Rose Brucia
 Stranger  Safety Awareness Week in the State of New York; each year, the
 third week in October will be declared as Rose  Brucia  Stranger  Safety
 Awareness Week in New York State; and
 WHEREAS, The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation was founded by Matthew
 J.   Barbis when his 11 year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and
 murdered in Sarasota, Florida, in 2004; the Foundation was  named  after
 Rose Brucia, Matthew's grandmother; and
 WHEREAS,  The  mission of the Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is to
 reduce the number of  child  abductions  in  America  by  educating  and
 empowering  young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction;
 and
 WHEREAS, The Rose Brucia  Educational  Foundation  so  effectively  is
 carrying out its mission by spreading its vital message to all elementa
 ry school-aged children across the State of New York; and
 WHEREAS,  Utilizing  puppets  and  simple self-defense techniques, the
 Rose Brucia Educational Foundation provides elementary schools with  the
 Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program at no charge; and
 WHEREAS,  Since  its inception, the Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Aware
 ness Program has been  welcomed  into  the  community  with  open  arms;
 Matthew Barbis's way of life was sadly changed by Carlie's tragedy which
 prompted  him to take serious action and help other children in America;
 and
 WHEREAS, Carlie Brucia's story was highly publicized and today  stands
 as  a call to action for families and individuals everywhere to stand up
 to child predators; and
 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that  when  founda
 tions  of  such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten
 tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all  the  citizens  of
 this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
 RESOLVED,  That  this  Legislative  Body pause in its deliberations to
 memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 22-26, 2012, as
 Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Week in the State of New York; and
 be it further
 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran
 smitted to Matthew J. Barbis, Founder, Rose Brucia  Educational  Founda
 tion.

2:04 PM By Alessandra Malito

Photo credit: Alessandra Malito

Runners stretched their legs in the St. Joseph’s College gymnasium on Sunday as they waited to stand behind the ribbon that kicked off the fifth annual Walkathon.

The Walkathon/5K run was held to raise awareness of the Rose Brucia Educational Foundation, which looks to promote stranger safety across the nation, and the Thomas J. Wendt ’88 Alumni Scholarship, which gives scholarships to incoming St. Joseph’s College students.

“Nowadays, the number of child abductions has gone up,” said Sister Elizabeth Hill, president of St. Joseph’s College. “This will help people become aware and help children themselves. Anything for kids is good.”

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The sun came out for the participants, who ran and walked more than two miles to the finish line on the Patchogue campus. Meanwhile, family members and friends waited on the sidelines to root them on.

Matthew Colson, of Medford, director of alumni relations and a Brucia board member, ran the course as he pushed his 6-year-old daughter, Ava Rose, in a stroller. Colson, who graduated in 2002, said the race fit into the mission of the foundations.

“It satisfies the core values,” Colson said, adding that one example of the mission of St. Joseph’s College is civic engagement.

In the past five years, the Walkathon has raised about $130,000, including this year.

The Thomas J. Wendt ’88 Alumni Scholarship is in honor of a former student leader and staff member at the college who died unexpectedly in 2004. That was the same year 11-year-old Carlie Brucia, cousin of Matthew J. Barbis, of Medford, the founder of the Rose Brucia Educational Foundation, was abducted and murdered in Florida. The foundation now offers a free stranger safety awareness program that has been downloaded by elementary schools throughout the country and internationally.

“It makes the school aware,” said Ben Tieniber of Medford, president of the alumni association and a 2005 graduate.

The race has grown steadily since its inception five years ago, going from 250 participants the first year to about 400 this year. There were 60 volunteers, as well as organizations like MetLife, which provided a fingerprinting program for children.

“It’s impossible to do without all these people,” Barbis said.

Photo: Matthew Colson, director of alumni relations at St. Joseph’s College and a Rose Brucia Educational Foundation board member, runs in the fifth annual Walkathon/5K Run as he pushes his daughter in a stroller. (April 29, 2012)

Tags: Patchogue , St. Joseph’s College , Walkathon

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation
Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation
Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

The news segment is the result of the re-opening of the Etan Patz case. Back in 1979, 6 year-old Etan Patz disappeared when he was walking to his school bus stop two blocks from his family’s SoHo loft. It was the first time that Etan walked to his school bus stop. Little Etan was never found and was declared legally dead in 2001.

The NYPD and the FBI have re-opened the case, citing new evidence.

About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation
Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.