Polly Klaas Foundation
{{Short description|American child protection charity}}
{{infobox organization
|name = Polly Klaas Foundation
|image = Logo Polly Klaas Foundation.png
|size = 150px
|abbreviation =
|motto =
|formation = 1993
|type = 501(c)(3) organization
|headquarters = Houston, Texas, United States
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = Dan Fish
|key_people = {{hlist|Marge Ford | Wade Schlueter | Shayna Clementz | Brent Collinson | Eddie Freyer | Michael Kerns | Harry Hollingshead | Buck Linder | Dan Mayer}}
| revenue_year = 2015
| expenses_year = 2015
|website = [http://www.pollyklaas.org/ www.pollyklaas.org]
}}
The Polly Klaas Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity organization devoted to preventing crimes against children, assisting in the recovery of missing children, and lobbying for legislative assistance. The foundation was formed October 23, 1993, to search for Polly Klaas. Its executive director is Robert De Leo.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15157979 |title=Staying ahead of 'predators' |publisher=NBC News |date=2006-10-06 |access-date=2012-03-12}} It has expanded its mission and now searches for many missing children.
The Polly Klaas Foundation also provides kits for parents to teach abduction prevention in a way that they state is not frightening for children.{{cite web|url=http://pollyklaasaction.org/campaign/child_safety_kit |title=Take Action: Order your free Child Safety Kit today |publisher=Pollyklaasaction.org |date= |accessdate=2012-03-12}} It distributes over 100,000 of these kits per year.{{cite web |url=http://www.convio.com/site/PageServer?pagename=cli_snap_pollyklaas |title=Polly Klaas Foundation |publisher=Convio.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009204811/http://www.convio.com/site/PageServer?pagename=cli_snap_pollyklaas |archive-date=2007-10-09 |url-status=dead }}
The Polly Klaas Foundation worked with Convio to send targeted letters to state and federal officials to implement Amber Alerts in all 50 states.
Polly's father, Marc, is not associated with this foundation. However, her mother, Eve Nichol, serves on the board.
History
The Polly Klaas Foundation was created initially to search for Polly Klaas. After two years, the executive director, Gary Kinley, resigned with no explanation, and there was an analysis of financial problems in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/03.28.96/klaas-9613.html |title=Polly Klaas Foundation riddled with fiscal problems |publisher=Metroactive.com |date=1996-04-03 |accessdate=2012-03-12}} The Polly Klaas Foundation has since recovered and has drastically increased its operating budget.{{cite web|url=http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=justgive&npoId=72610 |title=Polly Klaas Foundation |publisher=Guidestar.org |date= |accessdate=2012-03-12}}
The Polly Klaas Foundation receives the majority of its donations via donated cars, through a partnership with Harvard Palmer Jr.'s Vehicle Donation Processing Center.{{cite news|last=Schembari|first=James|title=Old Cars Can Become Good Deeds|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/28/business/midstream-old-cars-can-become-good-deeds.html|accessdate=4 November 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=2003-12-28}}
On November 19 1993 a 32 year old woman filed a civil suit against Polly Klaas Foundation president Bill Rhodes, claiming he had molested her over a period of 6 months 24 years ago. Rhodes was previously convicted of masturbating in front of several young girls in 1967 and acquitted of molesting 4 Santa Clara girls at knife point in 1968.{{cite book|last=Spiering|first=Frank|title=Who Killed Polly?, Volume 1|publisher=Monterey Press|year=1995|page=61 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/22/us/accused-of-molesting-man-quits-search-for-missing-girl.html |title=Accused of Molesting, Man Quits Search for Missing Girl|work=New York Times |date=1993-11-22|accessdate=2024-11-20}} He claimed his role in the foundation was to "make amends" for his past. Rhodes stepped down on November 20th. {{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/sad-case-polly-klaas-1904680 |title=The Sad Case Of Polly Klaas |publisher=Newsweek |date=1993-12-12 |accessdate=2024-11-20}} Police stated he was not a suspect in the Polly Klaas case.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/12/02/suspect-queried-in-kidnapping-of-california-girl/071ba3bc-c092-4c19-9ccf-5802a9758168/ |title=SUSPECT QUERIED IN KIDNAPPING OF CALIFORNIA GIRL|newspaper=Washington Post |date=1993-12-01|accessdate=2024-11-20}} Rhodes died in February 8 2012.
Children
The missing children featured by the Polly Klaas Foundation include:
=Other people=
- Michelle Le, nursing student. Search efforts were supported by the foundation.