THANKS TO YOU THE KELSEY SMITH FOUNDATION HAS:

·         Had over 15,000 participants attend the Safety Awareness Seminar, a unique program that focuses on proactive techniques to stay safe for both women and men. As part of our high school Safety Whistle Program nearly $40,000 in safety whistles were distributed to high school students when the SAS is presented at high schools.

·         Mobilized “Kelsey’s Army,” to help search for a missing person from Lenexa.  The Kelsey Smith Foundation organized and led a 2-day search of Shawnee Mission Park with outstanding support from local businesses and the community.

·         Developed new education program called Parent Overview Seminar (POS) for parents of youth and young adults.  Unveiled new safety initiative, the Safety Awareness Seminar - Simulating Individual Experiences (SASSIE), an extension of our basic Safety Awareness Seminar (SAS) that provides for more personalized training.

·         Received the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2009.  Recognized by Network of Victim’s Assistance (Pennsylvania) for Outstanding Support of the Network of Victim’s Assistance, 2010. Recognized by Kansas City Area Wide Chapter for Outstanding Services on Behalf of Victims of Crime, 2011.

·         Educated lawmakers about the importance of cell phone technology in helping law enforcement locate missing persons who may be in danger of physical harm or death.  This has led to passage of landmark legislation, named the Kelsey Smith Act, in Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, New Hampshire & New Jersey.  Other states are working to pass the Act and it has been proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas.  All four Kansas Representatives have signed on to the bill, HR 847.

·         Legislation modeled after the Kelsey Smith Act has been proposed in Alberta, Canada this year.

·         Continue to provide assistance to families who have experienced a crisis incident including assistance with navigating the sometimes challenging law enforcement and judicial bureaucracy.

Printable version:

 2011_highlights.pdf