John Walsh To become the host of the television program "America ' s Most Wanted" was not a career that Walsh envisioned. In the summer of 1981, Walsh was a rising hotel management consultant in Hollywood, Florida. He and his wife had a beautiful son Adam, who in their words was "the joy of their lives " . Living "the American Dream", they never thought that crime would hit them. Their joy was shattered when their son Adam was abducted and later found murdered. Turning their grief into positive energy to help missing and exploited children, their work led to the Missing Children's Act of 1982 and the missing Children's Assistance Act in 1994. The latter bill founded the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which maintains a toll free number (1-800-THE-LOST) to report a missing child or the sighting of one. As a result. of Walsh's efforts, the FBI has created files on missing children and unidentified bodies in its National Crime Information Center. The FBI now enters into child abduction cases in the absence of a ransom note or evidence of interstate flight. The Walshes founded the "Adam Walsh ' s Children's Fund", a non-profit organization in their son ' s memory which is dedicated to legislative reform. Currently there are four centers in the United States: Florida, South Carolina, California, and New York. Recently, the centers merged with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on which Walsh serves on the hoard of both the National and the Florida Centers. v Walsh is the recipient of numerous Awards for his efforts to end crime, among which include: 1988 Man of the Year, U.S. Marshals Service; American Legion ' s National Commander' s Public Relations Award, 1986; National p'1A's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honors, 1992. Additionally, he is the only private citizen to receive a Social jf Recognition Award by the Attorney General of the United States of America. °IV The. Adan -Vats . Chi Fund The Adam Walsh Children's Fund (AWCF) is the educational and endowment division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, (NCMEC). The NCMEC was mandated by Congress in 1984 to serve as the national resource for children in America. Since 1984 the NCMF,C and its Adam Walsh Branches have assisted in the recovery of over 33,499 children, with an 89% rate of recovery over the past four years. The AWCF is a part of the legacy of the Adam Walsh Center, founded in Florida in 1981 after the abduction and murder of young Adam Walsh, son of John Walsh. As the educational and endowment division of the NCMEC, the Aclam Walsh Children's Frmd works to place the abuse and abduction prevention program, KIDS AND COMPANY: Together For Safety, in elementary schools across America. To date the program has been piloted in 38 states, and is in wide use in FL, MA, Nil, NY and VT. For further information about the Adam Walsh Children's Fund, contact: Tel. 1 . 800 . 892 . 7430