Qwest Foundation

Qwest Foundation Invests $500,000 to Create New Online Safety Resource with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

February 15, 2007

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 14, 2007–The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children(R) (NCMEC) and the Qwest Foundation will unveil a free, first-of-its-kind resource for parents and guardians to help keep America’s children safer on the Internet. Members of Congress are now participating in the announcement.

WHAT:

Demonstration of Resource to Help Families Stay Safer on the Internet

WHEN:

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007

10 – 10:30 a.m. Press conference

10:30 – 11 a.m. Demonstrations of online safety resource

WHO:

Ernie Allen, president and CEO, NCMEC

Robbie Callaway, co-founder, NCMEC

Gary Lytle, senior vice president, federal relations, Qwest Communications

Paula Kruger, executive vice president, mass markets, and leader of Qwest’s Online Safety Program, Qwest Communications

Members of Congress include:

U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., co-chair of the Senate Caucus on Missing, Exploited and Runaway Children

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., co-chair of the House Missing and Exploited Children’s Caucus

U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas, co-chair of the House Missing Children and Exploited Children’s Caucus

U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb.

WHERE:

U.S. Capitol

Mansfield Room (S-207)

Washington, D.C.

WHY:

NCMEC and the Qwest Foundation know it’s a tough job being a parent or guardian with today’s rapidly emerging technology. They’re faced with the unprecedented challenges of trying to keep up with their children, so they can help them stay safer online. This tool will help make that job easier by providing the resources, in an easy-to-use format, to help parents and guardians close the technology gap.

ABOUT:

The Qwest Foundation’s core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on K-12. The Qwest Foundation’s philosophy is to help build strong communities through investing in people and the places where they live and work. For more information, contact www.qwest.com/foundation.

About NCMEC:

NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. NCMEC’s congressionally mandated CyberTipline, a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation, has handled more than 441,900 leads. Since its establishment in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 127,700 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 110,200 children. For more information about NCMEC, call its toll-free hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit www.missingkids.com.