The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC), in partnership with the Leesburg Police Department, will be observing National Missing Children’s Day this year by participating in the national Take 25 child safety campaign. A child safety resource event will be held at the Ida Lee Park Recreation Center on May 20.

The Take 25 campaign is a national child safety public awareness campaign created in 2007 by the National Centerfor 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. 

 “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 President and CEO of NCMEC Ernie Allen. “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.”

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

“Safety of our children is a major concern for parents and we hope that this program will give parents the skills needed to keep their kids safe”, stated Leesburg Police Chief Joseph Price.

This year, the Leesburg Police Department is hosting their Take 25 child safety event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ida Lee Recreation Center. Internet safety is the primary topic that the department is addressing with the help from the Best Buy Geek Squad. Other resources offered will be offered:

· Child ID – DNA Kits offered by the Leesburg Police Citizen Support Team

· General Child Safety Information

· Child Safety Seat Inspections by the LPD Traffic Management Unit

· Classes for adults and children on Internet Safety (adult class at 11 a.m., child class at 1 p.m.)

· Free Wireless Router Safety Checks by the Geek Squad

· Information from the Loudoun County Health Department

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.