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Community Corner

Golf Mill Shopping Center in Partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Host Take 25 Event to Commemorate National Missing Children's Day

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC), in partnership with Golf Mill Shopping Center and the Niles Police Department, will be observing National Missing Children’s Day this year by participating in the national Take 25 child safety campaign. A Press Conference, open to the public, will be held on Friday, May 25 at Center Court of Golf Mill Shopping Center, from 10am-10:30am.

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of missing children’s issues and unite the community of Niles in a cause that solidifies the safety of all children. A Press Conference will be held providing the community with beneficial information supporting child safety. The event will also bring together local advocacy from community leaders, educators, law enforcement and community members.

May 25 has been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since it was first observed in 1983. National Missing Children’s Day serves as an annual reminder that there are thousands of children who are still missing and stresses the importance of making child protection a national priority. The Take 25 campaign is a national child safety public awareness campaign created in 2007 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The campaign encourages parents to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about safety and ways to prevent abduction. The campaign begins on May 1 and continues through May 25 every year in communities throughout the country.

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“We know that teaching children about safety works. Community events play an important role in helping parents understand how they can help save a child’s life,” said Ernie Allen, President and CEO of NCMEC. “We are very grateful to our local partners who share our interest in keeping children safe. They play an important role in raising public awareness in communities throughout America.”

“At Golf Mill we take every missing child report very seriously. Every member from the Housekeeping staff to Maintenance, Mall Management and Security mobilizes to ensure the child is found quickly and safely” explained Dana Eulert, Director of Public Safety at Golf Mill Shopping Center.    

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Every year in America, an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing, more than 2,000 each day. Of that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members and 58,000 are abducted by non-family members, for which the primary motive is sexual. Each year, 115 children are the victims of the most serious abductions; they are taken by non-family members and either murdered, ransomed or taken with the intent to keep.

An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 84% of the cases, the child escaped would-be abductors through their own actions. Teaching children about safety works. It saves lives.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1984.  It is the leading nonprofit organization that deals with the issues of missing children and sexual exploitation of children. It operates the national toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST, as well as the CyberTipline which is the national system for reporting suspected sexual exploitation of children. To learn more about NCMEC or to make a donation, visit www.missingkids.com or call 1-800-THE-LOST.

For More Information Contact:

Monika Kalicki, (847) 699-1070 ext. 115, Monika.Kalicki@golfmill.com

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