ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of
analyzing attempted abductions, the National Center for Missing
& Exploited Children® has identified the tricks used by
abductors, and the most successful escape strategies for children.
NCMEC and Honeywell (NYSE: HON) are working together to deliver
this insight nationwide through KidSmartz™, the premier abduction
prevention program that equips teachers and parents with tools to
help protect children.
Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7521451-ncmec-honeywell-safety-dance/
A key component of the program is the KidSmartz "Safety Dance"
Video Contest. From January through March, elementary schools were
asked to submit videos of their students dancing to the new
KidSmartz "Safety Dance," a reimagining of a popular 1980's song
with new lyrics designed to give kids the knowledge and confidence
to avoid abduction.
Today, the four grand-prize winners were announced with a
kick-off celebration planned for each school as follows:
- May 12, 9:30 a.m.: P.S. 253 - The Magnet School of
Multicultural Humanities in Brooklyn, New
York
- May 14, 8:30 a.m.: Liberty Oaks Elementary School in
Kansas City, Missouri
- May 27, 9 a.m.: Travis Ranch
School in Yorba Linda,
California
- May 29, 9:30 a.m.: Holy Cross Lutheran School in
North Miami, Florida
Each school receives a $10,000
cash prize from Honeywell and will be joined by NCMEC and Honeywell
for a KidSmartz "Four Rules of Safety" celebration and check
presentation.
"In 83 percent of attempted abductions that the National Center
has analyzed, kids were able to escape because they were empowered
to take action - they ran, they screamed or they fought," said
Linda Krieg, NCMEC acting CEO. "The
KidSmartz program is designed to give kids the confidence they need
to make smarter and safer decisions when they are faced with
potential danger. All of the schools who entered this contest are
setting a great example by making the safety of their students a
priority."
A total of 65 submissions were received from across the country
and winners were selected by more than 70,000 public votes and a
panel of judges.
KidSmartz delivers critical safety information through
downloadable educational materials such as music and videos that
reinforce the KidSmartz "Four Rules of Safety":
- Check First
- Take a Friend
- Tell People "No"
- Tell a Trusted Adult
"We've partnered with the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children for more than a decade to help keep children
safer," said Mike Bennett, President
of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's corporate
citizenship initiative "We're excited to see schools and
communities embracing the KidSmartz program, and we're proud to
join the National Center in celebrating the creative and amazing
work of these teachers and students."
KidSmartz includes an abduction prevention lesson plan for
Grades K-5 that uses videos and engaging animations to teach simple
safety rules. The content also includes messages from KidSmartz
spokesperson Tia Mowry, star of the
Nickelodeon TV sitcom "Instant Mom" and a real-life mother.
The KidSmartz curriculum and related materials are available for
download at www.KidSmartz.org. For more information, check out
KidSmartz on Facebook and Twitter.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the
leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with law
enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them on
issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children.
Established in 1984 and authorized by Congress to serve as the
nation's clearinghouse on these issues, NCMEC operates a hotline,
1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted
law enforcement in the recovery of more than 205,550 children.
NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting
child pornography, child sex trafficking and other forms of child
sexual exploitation. Since it was created in 1998, more than 4.7
million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been
received, and more than 142 million suspected child
pornography images have been reviewed. NCMEC works in partnership
with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, visit
www.missingkids.com. Follow NCMEC on Twitter and like
NCMEC on Facebook.
About Honeywell Hometown Solutions
KidSmartz™
the "next generation" of Got2BSafe! is part of Honeywell Hometown
Solutions, the company's corporate citizenship initiative, which
focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math
Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter,
Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with
leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed
powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it
serves. For more information, please visit
http://citizenship.honeywell.com/.
About Honeywell
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a
Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader,
serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services;
control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry;
turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and
information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.
Media Contacts:
National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children
703-837-6111
media@ncmec.org
Kerry Kennedy
Honeywell Hometown Solutions
973-455-4087
kerry.kennedy@honeywell.com
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-us-elementary-schools-win-10000-grand-prize-in-the-kidsmartz-safety-dance-video-contest-sponsored-by-ncmec-and-honeywell-300082220.html
SOURCE The National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children(R) and Honeywell