Take 25 Organizers Kit 2013 - National Center for Missing Eploited Children

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Proudly Sponsored by
www.take25.org

2. Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 How to Plan a Take 25 Event
4 Suggested Take 25 Events
5 Media Outreach Steps for Success
6 Event Checklist
7 Talking Points
8 Resources
9 Guidelines

3. it’s all
about
time... Welcome to the Take 25 Campaign
Every year, nearly
800,000 children
are reported as missing
to law enforcement.
That’s more than
2,000 children per day.
While many of these children are recovered quickly, there are many
who never return home. To ensure these children remain in the
hearts and minds of the public, in 1983, former President Ronald
Reagan declared May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day.
This day serves as a time to renew efforts to reunite missing children
with their families, remember those who are still missing, and make
child safety a national priority.
To commemorate this day, the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children® (NCMEC) launched Take 25, a national
grassroots campaign encouraging parents, guardians, communities,
and others to take 25 minutes to talk to children about safety.
With a focus on prevention, Take 25 provides families and
communities with the tools and resources to initiate an on-going
dialogue with children about safety.
We invite you to join the thousands of organizations, agencies,
and individuals who have already brought the Take 25 Campaign
to communities throughout the United States and abroad. Getting
started is easy. Enclosed you will find a step-by-step guide to
help plan your Take 25 event(s) as well as a complete list of FREE
materials available to event organizers. You will also find Talking
Points and Guidelines Governing a Take 25 Event. We ask that you
read and abide by all of these guidelines as you are planning and
executing your Take 25 event.
As the Take 25 Campaign continues to grow, involvement of local,
regional, and national partners is critical. We appreciate your
participation and look forward to working with you as you plan
your Take 25 event(s).
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4. HOW TO PLAN A
TAKE 25 EVENT
As you begin planning, consider these important steps:
1. Choose an event to host
• Community or Safety Day • Press Conference
• Child ID • Proclamation
• Safety Presentation • Materials Distribution
2. Identify local contacts
• Include elected and appointed officials, • Recruit volunteers as needed to support
media representatives, community leaders, the event.
educators, law enforcement, clergy, and
other community members.
3. Secure the support of local organizations
• Host a planning meeting to discuss the • Include colleges and universities, and
responsibilities of each participating organization. encourage their participation in planning
• Invite representatives from law enforcement and hosting events.
and the nonprofit, corporate, faith-based, • If possible, contact potential partners at
and government sectors. least 60 days prior to your event.
• Divide responsibilities among media outreach,
event planning, and event day details.
4. Develop an event strategy
• Identify goals for the event, which may • Research local and national statistics
include raising awareness, increasing involving missing or exploited children. Visit
community involvement, or highlighting www.missingkids.com for national statistics and
cases of missing children. consult your state clearinghouse to find out
• Consider the demographics of your audience how the issues are relevant in your community.
and determine which materials you will
distribute to attendees.
5. Determine a location
• Consider where the event will take place. • Make sure your venue will hold the estimated
Possible locations include a local community number of attendees, has parking, and is
center, school, or park. accessible by public transportation.
• Determine what date and time will allow for • Establish a back-up plan in case of
maximum participation. inclement weather.
• Estimate the number of children and families
that will attend.
2

5. it’s all about time...
6. Engage your community
• Network with local organizations to promote • Reach out to schools and parent organizations
the event. to request they notify parents and guardians
about events in the community.
7. Develop a media strategy
• Develop a list of media representatives to invite • Promote your event on local community
to the event, including television and radio event calendars.
stations, newspapers, and magazines. • Distribute a media advisory to local media
• Designate a spokesperson, such as a outlets, along with an invitation to the event.
community leader, law-enforcement • Prepare media kits with press releases for
representative, or local celebrity or athlete media representatives attending your event.
to speak on behalf of the event.
• Videotape and/or photograph the event.
8. Work out last-minute details
• Provide attendees with Take 25 resources. • If you are expecting a large crowd, consider
• Plan to meet your participants’ needs and entertainment for children who are waiting
ensure their comfort while attending the event. in line. Face-painting, costumed characters,
demonstrations, and storytelling are all fun
ways to keep children engaged.
9. Follow up with supporters
• Issue surveys to event organizers and attendees. • Keep the issue of child safety at the forefront
• Form a task force in your community to work on of community members’ minds.
missing and exploited children’s issues.

6. SUGGESTED
TAKE 25 EVENTS
Distribute Take 25 Materials
• Distribute safety materials at events or in family • Display posters and banners in public areas,
friendly areas throughout the community. such as libraries, schools, community centers,
hospitals, bus stops, and other high-traffic areas.
Organize a Child ID Event
• Local law enforcement can often assist • Personal information obtained should be given
by producing high-quality photos and to parents and guardians to store in a safe
fingerprints of children that can be given place and should not be saved in any database.
to parents and guardians.
Conduct a Safety Presentation
• Parents, guardians, law enforcement, and • Visit www.NetSmartz.org for downloadable
others can gather in a public setting to discuss Internet safety presentations.
protective measures to help keep children safer.
Host a Press Conference
• Invite the media to help launch your event and • Invite and recognize those who assisted
engage the community on child safety issues. in the planning process.
Issue a Proclamation
• Ask local elected officials to issue a proclamation
for National Missing Children’s Day, recognizing
the day, week, or the month of May.
4

7. MEDIA OUTREACH
STEPS FOR SUCCESS
ONE MONTH BEFORE YOUR Event
Assemble press kits to distribute to local media. Press kits should include:
• Information about your organization • A personalized copy of the Take 25
• Information about National Center for press release
Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
®
• Local contact information for press inquiries
and the Take 25 Campaign
THREE WEEKS BEFORE YOUR Event
• Research contacts at local media outlets. • Don’t be discouraged. Media contacts are
Compile contact names, telephone numbers, often busy. When contacting them, first ask
e-mail addresses, and submission deadlines. “Is this a good time to talk—are you on
• Build relationships with media contacts. deadline”? Be flexible and work around
When contacting the media, ask to speak your contact’s schedule.
to someone in community affairs or events. • Offer all of the available resources. Local media
If possible, arrange to meet in person prior outlets may air public service announcements
to the event. (PSAs) for your event or publish information in
their written communications.
ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR EVENT
• Send each media outlet a personalized • Provide information about your Take 25 event,
press release. including the best time to have media present
and specific times when local leaders will be
in attendance.
TWO DAYS BEFORE YOUR EVENT
• Call, e-mail, or fax all contacts. Ensure that they
received the press release, and attempt to
secure a commitment for media coverage.
AFTER THE EVENT
• Be persistent. If the story doesn’t run as planned,
follow up with your contact and send an event
summary and pictures from the event. Your contact
may be able to run a post-event story instead.
Be sure to thank your media contacts after the event and acknowledge their support.
5

8. Take 25 Event
Organizer Mini List
For a full selection of event organizer resources and templates, visit
www.take25.org/resources.
Choose an Event Secure Support
• Review Take 25 materials, determine your • Engage local agencies and organizations
audience, and available resources • Promote your event through local
media outlets
• Tell your communities about your event and
recruit volunteers
Set Goals Take 25 Pre-Event Preparation
• Determine interest and investigate • Anticipate the needs of your audience
other events near the time of your • Make sure you have contact information
proposed event(s) to reach all parties involved on the day
• Host a planning meeting to delegate tasks, of the event
develop a timeline, and establish the main • Take pictures and/or video the day of
points of contact for planning, questions, and your event
logistics the day of the event
Register Events Event Follow Up
• Visit www.take25.org/host to log-in and • Survey your participants and event partners
register your Take 25 event(s). You may track to determine if you reached your event goals
the progress of your Take 25 event(s) and • Thank your volunteers, event partners, local
order materials here. Be sure to also sign-up media, and any participating local officials
for the Take 25 e-blast to get the latest
• Share your event successes, challenges,
campaign updates and safety information.
stories, press releases, media clips, and
• Once your event has been registered and pictures. Send them all to take25@ncmec.org.
approved, order FREE event planning
resources and materials to share with
children and families. Take 25 resources are
available in multiple languages and can also May 25
Missing
be downloaded at www.take25.org. National Day
Children’s
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9. TAKE 25
TALKING POINTS
WHAT IS TAKE 25?
• A campaign of the National Center for Missing • This national child safety campaign encourages
& Exploited Children® (NCMEC), Take 25 was parents and guardians to take 25 minutes to talk
created in commemoration of National Missing to their children about ways to stay safer.
Children’s Day. • The goal of Take 25 is to promote an ongoing
• Annually honored on May 25th, this day serves dialogue between children, families, and
as a reminder to the nation to renew efforts communities about child safety issues.
to reunite missing children with their families,
remember those who are still missing, and make
child protection a national priority.
WHY IS TAKE 25 IMPORTANT?
• According to the U.S. Department of Justice • An estimated 58,200 children are abducted
(DOJ) an estimated 800,000 children are by non-family members each year. About 115
reported missing in the United States annually, children each year are the victims of the most
amounting to approximately 2,000 each day. serious, long-term abductions.
Thankfully, the vast majority are located quickly.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN
• NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization • To learn more about NCMEC and the issue
working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of missing and exploited children, call the
of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST®
Delinquency Prevention. (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.com.
• NCMEC helps prevent child abduction and
sexual exploitation; helps find missing children;
and assists victims of child abduction and
sexual exploitation, their families, and the
professionals who serve them.
To learn more about the Take 25 Campaign or register an event,
visit www.take25.org.
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10. Take 25
Resources
Planning Documents
In addition to the resources included in this Kit, the Take 25 Campaign offers several other FREE
materials to help event organizers begin planning their Take 25 event(s). The following resources
are available for download at www.take25.org/resources:
• Media Advisory • Press Release
• Outreach Letter • Resolution
Event Materials
The Take 25 Campaign also provides event organizers with materials and resources to share with
families, children, and communities during events. These FREE resources are available in multiple
languages and can either be downloaded at www.take25.org or ordered after your Take 25 event is
registered and approved by National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) staff.
• Bookmarks • Mini-Lessons
• Brochures • Posters
• Child ID Kits • Safety Tips
• Conversation Starters • Stickers
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11. GUIDELINES GOVERNING
TAKE 25 EVENTS
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) has developed the
following guidelines to make the Take 25 Campaign as successful as possible.
By agreeing to follow these guidelines, you help ensure that NCMEC’s Take 25
Campaign continues to be a success.
□□ NCMEC’s name and logos are registered trademarks that are wholly owned by NCMEC
and cannot be displayed or reproduced without NCMEC’s written permission.
□□ If you wish to use NCMEC’s name and/or logos, including the Take 25 logo, in any
way other than on the printed Take 25 materials provided by NCMEC, you must seek
written approval from NCMEC before any such use. Until you receive NCMEC’s written
approval, you cannot use NCMEC’s name or logos in any way other than on the printed
Take 25 materials.
□□ You will submit for NCMEC’s review and approval any flyers, press releases, or other
promotional materials that you propose using in connection with the Take 25 event
before you produce, distribute or publish any such materials.
□□ Your Take 25 event cannot create the impression that NCMEC sponsors, endorses, or
is affiliated with any individual or entity beyond the scope of the approved Take 25
event. Your Take 25 event can not place any missing child in a false light or tarnish
NCMEC’s name or reputation. You will not use NCMEC’s name or logos for any
commercial purpose.
□□ If your Take 25 event will involve sponsorship, fundraising, and/or donation activities, then
you must provide information regarding these activities to NCMEC and agree to abide
by any applicable Better Business Bureau guidelines and/or state fundraising regulations.
□□ NCMEC reserves the right to decline any Take 25 event in its sole discretion upon
review of the Take 25 event details.
□□ You will obtain all necessary permits, licenses, and insurance for your Take 25 event
and will be responsible for all expenses relating to and arising from a Take 25 event.
□□ You agree to indemnify and hold NCMEC harmless from all claims and liabilities
relating to your Take 25 event.
I am over 18 years old and have read, understand, and agree to follow all the guidelines
on this page in conducting the proposed Take 25 event. I attest that the information
provided in my application is correct and accurately describes the proposed Take 25 event.
I will notify NCMEC as soon as possible if any information provided in my application
changes in any way before the date of the Take 25 event. For more information, contact
take25@ncmec.org.
Name Date
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12. A program of the
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
Charles B. Wang International Children’s Building • 699 Prince Street • Alexandria, VA 22314-3175
www.missingkids.com • 1-800-THE-LOST® • take25@ncmec.org
Copyright © 2013 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.
Text Take25 to 20222 and donate $10 towards the Take 25 Campaign.
Must be 18 years or older.