For The People is proud to sponsor and be involved with both local and national not-for-profit organizations. Having a sense of community is important to us. FTP knows the importance of cultivating its roots in the communities in which we do business. Find out more about our local and national involvement by clicking on the tabs.

THE ERVIN ACADEMY

Mentoring & Leadership Program

Program Mission:

To graduate and increase the number of high school male graduates who possess outstanding moral character and ethical values including excellent tangible leadership and academic skills that are immediately transferrable to the workforce and community.

Program Goals:

The Ervin Academy’s Mentoring and leadership program’s goals are to:

1. Provide all at-risk high school males with outstanding examples of leadership via an excellent male Mentor.
2. Provide positive and consistent role models and increase each Mentee’s support network.
3. Create challenging and rigorous academic leadership activities that will develop and nurture their social and leadership skills.
4. Increase each student’s self-esteem.
5. Provide each student with exposure to other cultures, varying social-economic levels and the positive aspects of everyday life.
6. Teach each student how to develop and maintain positive personal and professional relationships.
7. Receive each student’s commitment to the avoidance of at-risk behavior which could adversely impact their ability to achieve their highest potential of success.
8. Our program WILL make a difference in the lives of our high school male participants!

Program Activities:
- Weekly academic tutoring (Via state certified teachers)
- Conflict resolution training
- Goal setting workshop/activities
- Personal support via weekly round table discussions (Via licensed and volunteer counselors)
- Career/Internship placement support and guidance
- Bi-monthly Mentor/Mentee activities
- Monthly field trips
- Monthly leadership workshops
- Quarterly community service project
- Scholastic involvement

Program Results: The Program will:
- Reduce the numbers of at-risk teen males who lack a positive male role model in their lives.
- Eliminate the instance of gang participation in the lives of our Mentees.
- Assist in the reduction in the numbers of teen males who are at-risk of incarceration.
- Provide at least two positive male Mentors for each Mentee.
- Expose our Mentees to all cultures, social-economic levels, political and financial environments.
- Increase each student’s conflict resolution skills.
- Support each student post graduation from the program.
- Increase the student’s participation in their high school programs.
- Ensure that our program graduates select a younger high school or middle school male to Mentor.
- Encourage all of our students to graduate from high school and to pursue post-secondary education (college).
- Develop productive high school males who will make positive contributions to society.

To learn more visit: www.theervinacademy.com

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Mission and History

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, (NCMEC), is a private, (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization which was created in 1984. The mission of the organization is to serve as the nation’s resource on the issues of missing and sexually exploited children. The organization provides information and resources to law enforcement, parents, children including child victims as well as other professionals.

History

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children was born in a time of tragedy. In 1979, six year old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school and was never seen again. Twenty-nine children were abducted and murdered in Atlanta, Georgia. And in 1981 six year old Adam Walsh was abducted from a Florida shopping mall and found brutally murdered. There were others.

In 1984, police could enter information about stolen cars, stolen guns, and even stolen horses into the FBI’s national crime computer — but not stolen children. That is no longer the case. More missing children come home safely today and more is being done today to protect children than anytime in the nation’s history.

In 1984, the U.S. Congress passed the Missing Children’s Assistance Act which established a National Resource Center and Clearinghouse on Missing and Exploited Children. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children was designated to fulfill this role.

On June 13, 1984, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children was opened by President Ronald Reagan in a White House Ceremony. The national 24-hour toll-free missing children’s hotline 1-800-THE-LOST opened as well.

25 Years of Progress

In June of 2009, NCMEC observed its 25th year in operation and a quarter century of progress on behalf of children. Twenty-five years later NCMEC has become the leading nonprofit organization in the U.S. working with law enforcement to address the problems of missing and sexually exploited children. Today the work of the organization includes twenty different Congressional mandates.

Today law enforcement is better trained, better prepared and responds more swiftly and effectively than ever before. There is better law and better technology. Parents are more alert and aware. Yet there are still thousands of children who do not make it home each year, and more who fall victim to sexual exploitation.

An estimated 800,000 children are reported missing each year — more than 2,000 children every day. An estimated 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before age 18. Yet, only 1 in 3 will tell anyone.

Clearly much more needs to be done.

To learn more visit: www.missingkids.com