I am writing this blog on the last day of the school week of "Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Week" in New York State. As I assess the internet results of our blogging campaign this week, I am delighted to find that, just in the last 5 days, our free Stranger Safety Awareness Program has spiked a 60% increase in downloads. That means that more and more parents, teachers and schools are utilizing our program to bring vital stranger safety skills to more and more children! Each time the program is downloaded, we can safely assume that yet another classroom is engaging in a thought-provoking discussion about stranger safety. Our reach grows exponentially as more teachers and schools share the program within their district.
There is a long list of people who I would like to thank for their involvement in this incredible week. Firstly, I would like to thank NY State Assemblyman Al Graf and Governor Cuomo, who are responsible for making this week a reality - your dedication has made it possible for, literally, thousands of children in the state of New York to become more aware of what they need to know before a stranger approaches. I would like to thank my supportive Board of Directors who stand behind all the hard work and planning that goes into our everyday mission to reduce child abductions. Of course, our program would be nothing without our Educational Coordinator, Pat Chierichella, and his extremely talented educational committee, who volunteer their valuable time and expertise to craft educationally sound lesson plans out of what,once, only seemed to be my wild imagination. Our faithful volunteer committees work hard to plan and execute our very successful events that keep our generous supporters interested in donating to fund our video productions. Finally, our amazing staff, headed by Maryann Barbis, keep working well past their regular work week in order to continually raise the bar on what this foundation continues to deliver to children, not only in this country, but to the other 90 countries across the globe that use the Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program.
In a world where it is necessary for adults to teach and continually remind children about the dangers that strangers may pose, it is heartwarming to know that this foundation, founded out of the loss of one child, Carlie Brucia, stands as a united front against anyone seeking to harm another innocent child. The more people who become involved with The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation; it's strength grows exponentially. As the old commercial says, "they tell one friend, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on....". Share the Stranger Safety Awareness Program with as many friends as possible - we will keep developing the lessons to reinforce our mission to reduce child abductions.
Special thanks to David Reich-Hale and the team over at Patch.com for spreading the daily blogs this week across New York State.
In Loving Memory of Carlie Jane Brucia