The Carpet and Rug InstituteCRI Teams Up To Help in Search for Missing Children
Partners with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Contact: CRI Communications Department, 706.428.2103

DALTON, Ga. (January 23, 2004) The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has teamed up with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in an effort to assist the organization in its quest to find missing kids in addition to preventing abducted, endangered, and sexually exploited children nationwide.

CRI will provide a link on its popular consumer website (www.carpet-rug.org) to publicize the efforts of NCMEC and to provide a means of access for those interested in helping NCMEC with its mission.

"The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is grateful to the Carpet and Rug Institutes support. By linking to NCMEC, CRI is publicizing photos of missing children and safety tips, and assisting NCMEC in our ongoing battle to combat child abduction and victimization," said Ernie Allen, President of NCMEC.

In addition, the NCMEC website (www.missingkids.com) provides a plethora of information from internet safety tips to resources for parents, law enforcement and attorneys. Photos of missing children and ways to report sightings of such children are highlighted on the site.

"CRI and our members are extremely supportive of the task at hand and the service provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This is a responsibility for all of us, and we are happy to provide this link on our website. Our hope is that anyone visiting the site will take the time to look at the photos or use the tips as a way to educate and protect their own children," said Werner Braun, President of CRI.

NCMEC was established in 1984 as a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to provide services nationwide for families and professionals in the prevention of abducted, endangered, and sexually exploited children. Pursuant to its mission and its congressional mandates, NCMEC:

  • Serves as a clearinghouse of information about missing and exploited children

  • Operates a CyberTipline that the public may use to report child sexual exploitation

  • Provides technical assistance to individuals and law-enforcement agencies in the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of cases involving missing and exploited children

  • Assists the U.S. Department of State in certain cases of international child abduction in accordance with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

  • Offers training programs to law-enforcement and social-service professionals

  • Distributes photographs and descriptions of missing children worldwide

  • Coordinates child-protection efforts with the private sector

  • Networks with nonprofit service providers and state clearinghouses about missing-persons cases

  • Provides information about effective state legislation to help ensure the protection of children