Next Monday, October 21st, kicks off Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Week in New York State. Governor Cuomo signed in Resolution K1252-2011 declaring the week. Here at the foundation, we are very excited to bring our free Stranger Safety Awareness Program to every elementary school in New York State. The program has been designed, by no accident, to deliver five separate short instructional videos, each with a lesson plan, written to NY state guidelines for Health & Safety. There is one lesson for each day of this special week so that teachers may deliver vital stranger safety concepts to students so that they may practice these skills as they enjoy trick-or-treating on Halloween the following week. Here is a copy of the resolution that you may share with your PTA president, school principal, or any NY State teacher to make them aware of the event as it unfolds:
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 elementary 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 Awareness 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 foundations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, 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 transmitted to Matthew J. Barbis, Founder, Rose Brucia Educational Foundation.
Please feel free to view the Stranger Safety Awareness Program and share it with as people as possible to extend the reach to the far corners of the state.
We will continue to provide updates as additional grades are added to the program. There are extra lesson plans provided for second-fifth grades until such video productions are made available.
Thank you for joining us on our mission to reduce child abductions in America.