FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Matthew J. Barbis
631.234.4667
matt@rosebrucia.org
The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation Responds to News of
Body of Brooklyn Boy Leiby Kletzky Found
ISLANDIA, NY – July 13, 2011 – According to Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky was brutally murdered. He was last seen walking home alone from day camp on Monday, July 11, 2011.
“Our hearts go out to Leiby’s family. It is now more important than ever to speak to our children, very candidly, about important techniques to keep themselves safe when parents and family members are not present,” said Matthew J. Barbis, founder and chairman of The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation. “We must become very proactive in our approach to keep our children safe.”
The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation was founded as a result of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia’s abduction and murder in Sarasota, FL in 2004. The foundation has been working to reduce child abductions by educating and empowering young children with the techniques and mindset needed to assist them in their own safety as it relates to strangers.
Currently, there is a House Resolution (H.Res302) which was introduced by First District Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and New York Second District Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY) on June 13, 2011 in the House of Representatives. The resolution is currently pending before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. The resolution will declare August 22, 2011 national “Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Day” in an effort to promote awareness about the Stranger Safety Awareness curriculum which will be available across the U.S. for all pre-schools and elementary schools, free of charge.
The Rose Brucia Stranger Safety Awareness Program (SSAP), focuses on three fundamental concepts: Awareness, Safety and Trust. Utilizing Health and Safety Standards established by New York State, the program is designed to deliver vital stranger safety concepts to children in a non-threatening, yet thought provoking manner. A complete curriculum has been written to accompany lessons presented in simple DVD media. A comprehensive resource guide, which includes objectives, procedure guidelines, a letter to parents and suggested homework assignments, is included. Teachers will be able to use each open-ended lesson plan at their discretion throughout the entire school year. The Stranger Safety Awareness Program is comprised of six volumes. Each consecutive volume will be released every six months, with a final elementary completion date of January 2014. Under the current system, there is no formal stranger safety program in the nation’s schools.
“A poignant quote was offered by R. Donahue Peebles of The Peebles Corporation just this past Saturday at an awareness fundraiser that Peebles and his wife, Katrina hosted,” said Barbis. “Edmund Burke stated that, ‘All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.’ It is time that we do everything we can to stop this from happening again and again.”
For more information, call 631.234.4667, email matt@rosebrucia.org or visit www.rosebrucia.org.
About The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation
Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004, The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation’s goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program, free of charge. The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
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1377 Motor Parkway
Suite 212
Islandia, NY 11749
631-234-4667
631-348-2664 fax |
