National Missing Children's Day Observed At Lake Elsinore Outlets

Commuters traveling past the Lake Elsinore Outlets will see a change of scenery today

For the third year, Lake Elsinore Outlets is participating in the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) national Take 25 child safety campaign. 

The Take 25 campaign asks parents, grandparents and others to take 25 minutes to talk to their child about safety and abduction prevention. The campaign begins on May 1 and runs through National Missing Children’s Day, which is observed each year on May 25. 

Today, in partnership with NCMEC, Lake Elsinore Outlets will display photographs of 100 missing children from the state of California or believed to be in California, on a high-definition LED billboard signs along Interstate 15 through 10 p.m. in an effort to bring attention to the thousands of children who are still missing. 

In addition, Lake Elsinore Outlets will be collecting donations for NCMEC through June 5, 2011.

“Our goal is to not only help find these missing children, but to create an awareness so that we can aid in reducing the number of missing children each year,” says Jess Irwin-Reeves, Manager of On-Site Media, Craig Realty Group.

The billboard is visible to over 85,000 local I-15 commuters every day, according to a officials from the Lake Elsinore Outlets. 

The children’s photos will be accompanied by the message, “Have You Seen This Child?” and the number of NCMEC’s toll free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).  Anyone with information about any of the missing children displayed is asked to contact NCMEC immediately.

"Getting the public involved with the search for missing children is critical in helping more children come home safely,” said Ernie Allen, President and CEO, NCMEC. “That is why we are grateful to the Lake Elsinore Outlets for their efforts that allow thousands of motorists to see the faces of missing children and hopefully help to reunite them with their families."