On Saturday, April 6th, The 5th Annual Wisconsin Missing Persons Event was hosted at the Brown County Sherrif's Office. This year's event was the best so far! The support that was shown from the community meant so much to families with missing loved ones. We are grateful to all who came out to show support!
Thank you to the Brown County Sheriff's Office and Green Bay Area Crime Stoppers for partnering with us, and to Chief Jody Lemmens, Deputy Jessica Smith, and to the all the kind people at the Sheriff's Office who helped with organizing and setting up!
Those who spoke at the event shared their support and knowledge with the public. Sheriff Todd Delain spoke about the various reasons people go missing and prevention measures. Attorney General Josh Kaul covered the importance of stopping sex trafficking. Senator Andre Jacque shared his message of support and spoke about the fight against sex trafficking.
Detective Roman Aronstein shared how important it is to report any detail even after time has gone by. What may seem trivial might help law enforcement to solve these cases and bring the missing home.
Michelle DuBois from the Wisconsin Clearinghouse shared some very important and hopeful statistics about how many missing children and adults go missing. Somewhere between 20-30 missing persons reports are made every day in Wisconsin. She also shared that most of those reported missing are found. Those who remain missing make up the over 200 missing persons in Wisconsin.
Sergeant Matt Wilson from the Brown County Sheriff's Office shared important information about keeping your kids safe on the internet.
Though not in attendance, Governor Tony Evers, Mayor Jim Schmitt, and Brown County Executive Troy Strechenbach had a big part in our event and mission for granting April as Missing Persons Awareness Month In the state of Wisconsin, the City of Green Bay, and in Brown County!
In honor of the Missing Persons Awareness Event, the Main Street and Dousman Street bridges in Green Bay by the City Deck were both lit yellow. Thank you, Celestine Jeffreys, for making that happen! It was BEAUTIFUL and so meaningful!
The Brown County Cadets were a big help at the event.
Cassandra Duvall did a fabulous job as our Master of Ceremonies. Thank you for your continued support!
The following participants shared information about how they assist the public and families who have a missing loved one:
You can find out more about these organizations by clicking on the link below:
Bikers Against Child Abuse Brown County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Charley Project Eye Heart World Green Bay Area Crime Stoppers Jacob Wetterling Resource Center K9 Emergency Response Teams McGruff NamUs Polly Klaas Foundation Project Lifesaver/Oshkosh Police Department Rapid Search and Rescue The Unidentified Truckers Against Trafficking Valley Mounted Volunteers Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Adults & Children Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin K9 SOS
The local media plays an important part in delivering the information shared at our event and assisting families in sharing their loved one's stories with the public. When the stories fade, people forget.
Our biggest program is our April Billboard Campaign. This program is so important in raising awareness of the missing in Wisconsin. We partnered with Lamar Advertising and have 11 billboards that will show 25 missing persons names each week in April. There are 6 billboards in Green Bay, two in Milwaukee and one in Marinette, Manitowoc, and in the Fox Cities.
Many families and businesses donated items for our silent auction or sponsored our event. This support is what funds our event and our billboard campaign! We partner with Lamar Advertising here in Green Bay and Milwaukee for this campaign. Billboards are very expensive. We are so happy that we can provide the to ALL of the families! These billboards bring such HOPE to the families reminding them that their loved one has not been forgotten, and the public that these people are still missing. A HUGE "THANK YOU" to all of those that donated or supported our event, we were able to raise $5342.14 for next year's billboards!! Thank you!
Families of the missing joined us for support and to share their loved one’ stories. We want you to know that you are not alone and together we are stronger. We must never give up hope that we will one day have answers!
This year’s families in attendance included:
Kenneth Plaisted missing since 11/16/71 from Milwaukee, WI David Dodge missing since 4/2/83 from Frederic, WI Amber Wilde missing since 9/23/98 from Green Bay, WI Rose Bly missing since 8/21/09 from St. Croix, WI Victoria Prokopovitz missing since 4/25/13 from Pittsfield, WI
To the families of the missing who were not able to join us, we were thinking about you and keeping you close in our heart. We hope you can join us next year. We had a moment of silence for all 202 missing persons in Wisconsin, and each person was given a candle with a tag of one of Wisconsin's Missing Persons to take home and light in Honor and Hope of the Missing.
The work that goes into this event would not be possible without my fellow board members and all the volunteers. Your support in sharing the vision of raising awareness for those who are missing is greatly appreciated!
For all who support our mission by sharing posters of the missing, attending this event, and standing up for the missing, thank you for acknowledging that we are not alone and that our missing loved ones have not been forgotten!
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
Comments