Date: From: Phone: Email: Contact: Subject:	March 3, 2001 KlaasKids Foundation (415) 235-4227 klaaskids@pacbell.net Marc Klaas BeyondMissing - Mother Uses New Website To Recover Missing Child
For Immediate Release
Sausalito, CA: A powerful new website that lets law enforcement and parents create missing child flyers has had its first success in Victorville, California. Fifteen-year-old Julie Baker disappeared from her father's Las Vegas home on February 15, yet twelve days later there were still no missing person flyers to distribute. On February 27, the teenagers mother Ms. Cynthia Stone of Victorville logged onto www.beyondmissing.com and used its suite of tools to create her own flyer which she then reproduced and distributed throughout Victorville and the surrounding area.    By Friday, March 2 young Julie, who was indeed on the run, had seen her face plastered so many places that she contacted her mother and was recovered. Ms. Stone places credit for the quick recovery squarely on the shoulders of BeyondMissing. "BeyondMissing gave me hope as a parent," she said. "If you are actively involved in the recovery of your own child it is the best possible thing that you can do."    BeyondMissing was co-founded by KlaasKids Foundation president Marc Klaas and Marin County Internet entrepreneur Mike Eagan. Mr. Klaas understands the hurdles faced by parents of missing children. "Polly disappeared on Oct. 1, 1993. On Oct. 2 we made flyers; on Oct. 3 we labeled and stuffed envelopes; on Oct. 4 we realized that $50,000.00 was needed for stamps and on Oct. 5 a home was mortgaged to raise the needed funds. On Oct. 6 we stamped and posted the flyers; and by Oct. 8 they began to arrive at their destinations. BeyondMissing eliminates all of that time and expense."     According to co-founder Mr. Mike Eagan, "We are refining BeyondMissing by beta testing the law enforcement component in certain areas of Northern California. Besides giving parents the ability to create their own flyers initial tools will include flyer creation and distribution for law enforcement, and email accounts for agencies that need them. We hope to establish a national presence within the next few months, but really depends on our ability to raise the necessary funding."    Ms. Stone is grateful to BeyondMissing. "You feel like you are doing something instead of sitting around and waiting and waiting," she said. "First of all, I felt powerless like I was pounding my head against a wall. Finally, my daughter is home."