Welcome to:
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
New York Branch Ride for Missing Children

In May of 1995, a team of bicyclists was organized to promote public awareness on the plight of all missing children. They rode their bicycles from Central New York to the steps of our nations capital, arriving in Washington, DC on National Missing Childrens Day, May 25th a distance of 529 miles. The Utica community continued the tradition of a Ride and is now in its tenth year with over 300 Riders. 2005 marked the 10th anniversary of the inaugural Ride with a return to Washington, DC.

Because of this success, NCMEC/NY introduced the 100-mile Ride for Missing Children to the Rochester community in 2001. And 2003 saw the advent of a successful first Ride in Cayuga County, called the Finger Lakes Ride for Missing Children. 2007 marked the inaugural ride for our Buffalo office!

The mission of the Ride is to:
- Remember all missing children
- Spread awareness on the plight of all missing and exploited children
- Raise funds to support prevention education programs, poster distribution and the mission of NCMEC/NY

Along the route, the Riders stop at targeted area schools. Staff and volunteers reinforce vital safety messages to the children the day of the Ride through music and song. Imagine the impression the riders make on the school children as they see so many bicyclists, riding 2x2 escorted by several police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring!

These select stops along the route provide refreshments and bathroom facilities for the Riders. Riders do not need to ride 100 miles to participate!

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children / New York

Mission Statement:

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's (NCMEC/NY) mission is to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

History:

The tragic abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh in 1981, as well as those of Etan Patz and Russel Mort, brought national attention to the issues faced by the families of missing children each year. Local business and community leaders, including Lou and Kathie Bivona and local child welfare agencies, responded by forming the Adam Walsh Child Resource Center in 1984. Located in Rochester, New York, the Adam Walsh Center merged with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 1990 to become the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children/New York Branch.

Did you know?

• Everyday in the US, 2,200 children are reported missing.
• Approximately 1.3 million children run away annually in our country.
• An estimated 5,000 runaway children die every year due to homicides, suicides, and disease.
• Approximately 3,300 children are reported missing annually in Western New York.
• NCMEC's recovery rate is 96%, up from 62% in 1990.
• One in six children are recovered as a direct result of a photograph.

NCMEC/NY Offers:

• Prevention education classes for parents, children, law enforcement, and other professionals
• Internet safety education through our NetSmartz safety education programming
• Mandated reporter classes to improve the identification, response and reporting of child abuse
• Case assistance to law enforcement and families on missing children's cases
• Poster distribution to targeted areas across the nation based upon investigative leads
• A state of the art training facility for law enforcement

During 2007 NCMEC/NY:

• Distributed 504,160 posters of missing children
• Assisted in the recovery 1,886 children through poster distribution and case assistance
• Distributed over 212,672 pieces of prevention education literature
• Conducted 812 education programs with 68,494 participants
• Coordinated 46 child identification programs with 4,730 children and adults
• Conducted 5 training programs with 250 participants held at the Polisseni Law Enforcement Training Center
• Participated in 2 regional conferences for 850 attendees

NCMEC is one of the Nation's Model Charities:

• NCMEC received 4 stars from Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator
• Ninety-three percent of revenue raised goes to program services.
• NCMEC meets all standards of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance
• All funds raised by the New York Branch remain local.

How You Can Help:

• Volunteer to assist with educational programs, special events, or office duties.
• Sponsor a fundraiser to benefit NCMEC/NY.
• Make a financial contribution directly to NCMEC/NY or give through the United Way donor designated #1428.