Thursday,
April 22, 2004
MORE
THAN 250 CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPHED AND FINGERPRINTED DURING ‘CHILD
SAFETY DAY’ – A FIRST-TIME PARTNERSHIP OF THE MOLLY
BISH FOUNDATION AND SUFFOLK REGISTRY:
In
one of the largest turnouts ever for a child safety event held
in the Boston area, more than 250 children received special
Child Identification Kits today during Child Safety Day at the
Suffolk County Probate and Family Court in Boston. Register of
Probate Richard Iannella joined with John Bish and The Molly
Bish Foundation to offer the event to the public. Both praised
the large numbers of parents, guardians and children who
attended the event.
“We’ve
been photographing and fingerprinting kids for nearly four
years now, and this is definitely one of the largest turnouts
that we’ve ever had,” said Bish immediately following the
event. “It’s also the first time that we’ve teamed with
the Family Court to hold a session like this, and I can’t
think of a more appropriate place to help ensure the
protection and safety of children and their families. We’ll
definitely be back here do this again,” added Bish.
Register
Iannella echoed the sentiments: “The Bish family has turned
a horrific tragedy into hope for the future, and the Bish’s
are to be commended for all that they have done to ensure the
safety and security of children and families in the
Commonwealth,” stated Iannella. “It was truly a privilege
to join with John Bish and the volunteers from the Molly Bish
Foundation, and I am pleased that so many parents and
guardians recognized the importance of this effort and turned
out with their children today.”
According
to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,
clear and current photographs and fingerprints are among the
most important items for authorities to have on hand in the
first hours a child goes missing. During the Child Safety
Day event, children were photograph and fingerprinted
children for custom Child Identification Kits. These kits were
then provided to parents or guardians for safekeeping. Other
important safety information was also made available.
Child
Safety Day
was funded, in part, by the Suffolk Probate Community Outreach
Program.
