New York Islanders to Hold Fundraiser for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

New York Islanders to Hold Fundraiser for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

If you have been following my blog for a while you probably know that I am a big hockey fan. I love NHL hockey and I have been following the New Jersey Devils since I was about 12 years old and though I don't get to games too often these days (family of 6 = $$$$ for tickets), I do still love them. And my love for the game of hockey is already being passed down as three of our boys are playing. So when I find out about a hockey team doing something really good for the community, I want to pass that information along.

On Thursday, March 29 the New York Islanders are hosting a special fundraiser for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) as they take on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh penguins at 7PM. America’s Most Wanted Host and Co-Founder of NCMEC, John Walsh will attend the game and drop the ceremonial puck. $2 from every ticket sold will go to NCMEC and if the game is a sell out, that will be $32,500 raised right there. New York Islanders owner Charles Wang has said he will match the total donation for the evening which means a sell out would raise $65,000.

In addition to ticket sales, there will be a variety of activities going on inside the Coliseum to help raise awareness and money for NCMEC’s mission of helping keep children safe. Collection tables will be set up throughout the concourse for fans who wish to make a direct donation as well as information tables where fans cam learn more about NCMEC. There will be a 50/50 raffle where 50% of the money will go to the winner and the other 50% will go to the organization.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children was established in 1984 and has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 169,840 missing children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 1,374,020 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 65,455,790 child pornography images and videos.

If you live on or near Long Island, attending this event is a great way to not only help raise money for this important organization, but also help raise awareness. NCMEC relies heavily on donations from the public, from people like you and me. But if people don't know about it, then they can't help. If you are unable to attend the event, then do what I am doing: spread the word! Let your friends know about it, share it on Facebook and Twitter. Reach out to everyone you know to tell them about NCMEC and what they do for our nation's children.

It is a sad reality in our world that are children abused, abducted and killed. An estimated 800,000 children are reported missing each year. That is more than 2,000 children every day. And an estimated one in five girls and one in ten boys are sexually victimized before the age of 18. As a parent, these numbers shake me to my core and represent one of my biggest fears: that someone will hurt my children.

Next Thursday I will be rooting for the New York Islanders. Not only to win their game but rooting for them to have a successful event that will benefit American children. And this mom deeply thanks them for their effort.