Chargers lead nationwide effort to protect children

Thursday, May 04, 2006
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

The San Diego Chargers are leading the charge in a national effort to protect America’s children.

The AmberWatch Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to the prevention of child abduction and abuse, is working to educate kids and protect them from predators.

The AmberWatch Foundation recently kicked off its Be Safe! education program, a three-pronged approach to arming children against danger.  The first area of emphasis is a series of public service announcements that feature the 12 "Be Safe!" tips derived from the "Be Safe!" curriculum.  The first wave of PSAs for television will feature LaDainian Tomlinson, Donnie Edwards, Keenan McCardell, Luis Castillo, Lorenzo Neal and Antonio Gates.  Castillo recorded his announcement in Spanish.

"We are thrilled that the Chargers have stepped forward to serve as 'champions for children' in this effort and have embraced this opportunity to take a proactive stance against child abduction and abuse," said Keith Jarrett, executive director of The AmberWatch Foundation. "Our mission is to ignite conversation between parents and their children to reinforce the safety message and help them to avoid potential endangerment scenarios with both strangers and non-strangers in and outside of the home."

“We’re honored to be part of this very worthwhile and beneficial program,” said Chargers President Dean Spanos.  “We’ve worked closely with law enforcement and youth support agencies in San Diego for many years, particularly devoting our efforts to helping kids.  Now, through the AmberWatch program, we have the ability to make an impact nationwide.”

The Chargers are the first professional sports franchise to become involved in the program.  For several years the Chargers have teamed up with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department to speak with kids in local schools through the “Stranger Danger” program.  The team’s involvement in the program led AmberWatch to seek them out.

”The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is pleased to team up with the San Diego Chargers in educating our children and their parents about predators and the social dangers that could threaten the safety of our kids,” said San Diego Sheriff Bill Kolender.

The PSAs are scheduled to begin airing in June.  Several "Be Safe!" PSAs for radio have been recorded by well-known celebrities such as Susan Sarandon, Samuel L. Jackson, Julianne Moore, Al Roker, Eugene Levy, Edie Falco, Kelsey Grammer, Nia Vardalos, Ray Romano and many others.  “Desperate Housewives” star Teri Hatcher serves as the Foundation’s national spokesperson.

“Our goal is to get more people working toward this crisis facing young people,” said Chargers Director of Security Dick Lewis.  “Children don’t have an appreciation for danger because they’re too young.  Someone has to tell them.  We have to educate them.”

In addition to the PSAs, the AmberWatch Foundation will attempt to spread its message through “Be Safe!” curriculum presented in elementary schools by local active and retired law enforcement professionals.  The Chargers will also be active in such school visits.

The third avenue of the program is a coloring/workbook that features 12 "Be Safe!" tips accompanied by an image that the child can color and what-if scenarios that the parent and the child can review together. Each page is designed to be removed from the "Be Safe!" book and posted on the refrigerator, ensuring frequent ignition of conversation between parents and children on how to stay safe and out of the hands of child abductors and molesters.