Adopt a Missing Person Program

Do you remember how Elizabeth Smart of Utah was located? A woman had seen her abductor's photo and then recognized him on the street. The Smart family was then able to be reunited with their daughter. What a joyous moment for them!

Awareness of a missing person is often key to resolution of these cases. The more often the missing loved one's face is seen, the greater the odds increase of location and reunion. Wouldn't you like to do your part to increase the odds for a family who dreams of holding their loved one in their arms once again?

Adopt a Missing Person is one of Project Jason's programs to assist families of the missing. It is a simple, yet effective way to bring about awareness for these missing loved ones.

1. Look at the list below and choose a person or persons to adopt. The families have sent us photo buttons, plus an information sheet about their missing loved one.
2. You may read about the missing person by clicking on their photo below, then select one or more person to adopt.
3. Send us a stamped, self-addressed bubble mailer, (Be sure to check that the proper amount of postage is affixed, depending on the size of your mailer and how many buttons you are requesting. A 4x7 mailer requires two .41 stamps and a 6x9 mailer requires three .41 stamps.)
4. Include a note telling us who you would like to adopt.
5. Upon receipt of your stamped mailer, we will send you the buttons and corresponding info sheets so that you can learn more about the person or persons you adopted.
6. In choosing to adopt a missing person, your only commitment is to wear the button as often as you can. Pin it to your purse or backpack as an option. Having the information sheet will enable you to answer questions others may have about your adopted missing person. Encourage your friends and family to adopt someone, too.
7. Please send your self addressed bubble mailer to:

   Project Jason
   Adopt a Missing Person Program
   PO Box 3035
   Omaha, NE 68103

As with all of our programs and services, there are no fees involved.

If you have any questions about the program, email us at adopt@projectjason.org.

Thank you for your generosity of spirit in helping our families. Every time their loved one is adopted, they feel a glimmer of hope once again, that they too, will have that joyous reunion.

Letters from recent adopters:

Dear Project Jason,
My name is Sara I am 9 years old. I would like to Adopt a missing person to help other familys. I have 5 brothers and 1 sister. One day my sister and 2 of my brothers went for a walk around the block. We can see the house the whole time. Well one of my brothers ran ahead of us so we looked for him we got home he was not there. There was only one place we did not look the back yard under the deck. He was there!
From Sara

Dear Project Jason,
My name is Emily M and I'm 8 years old. I would like to adopt a missing persin because it mite help others. I will ware my pin on my backpack.
Love,
Emily

Hi, my name is Nicole C. and I'm 12 years old. I would like to adopt a missing person because I think I could cheer up a family by having other kids wear pins. I would also fell proud of adopting a missing person and helping them find their missing person. I would also fell special by helping people. I would put the pin on my backpack, my clothes, my purse.
From,
Nicole C.

	Georgina DeJesus: Missing from Cleveland, OH since 4/2/04. Enjoys roller-skating, swimming and volleyball.		Bryan Hayes: Missing from Jacksonville, FL since 2/10/05, likes animals and is learning to ride a horse, also enjoys visiting museums, zoos, and caves.
	Wallace Richards : Missing from San Francisco, CA since 11/10/05, loves children, his large extended family, and his Trans Am.		Gina Bos: Missing from Lincoln, NE since 10/17/00, mother of three, highly talented musician and artist.
	Brandy Hanna: Missing from Charleston, SC since 5/20/05, loving daughter and sister, has a soft spot for stray cats and dogs.		Rachel Cooke: Missing from Georgetown, TX since 1/10/02, enjoys singing and running cross-country.
	Joshua Guimond: Missing from Collegeville, MN since 11/9/02, college student who plans on becoming a lawyer.		Michael Jarvi: Missing from Portland, OR since 3/23/02, enjoys video games, basketball and football.
	Jason Jolkowski: Missing from Omaha, NE since 6/13/01, former D.J., a loyal fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Denver Broncos.		Suzanne Lyall: Missing from Albany, NY since 3/2/98, college student majoring in computer science who also enjoys art and writing poetry.
	Maura Murray: Missing from Amherst, MA since 2/9/04, a nursing student, highly athletic, holds many running records, also enjoys hiking.		Teresa Butler: Missing from Risco, MO since 1/25/06, has two young sons whom she adores, enjoys photography, singing, and decorating her home.
	Clea Hall: Missing from Pine Bluff, AR since 5/9/94, loves to read and is active in her church choir, plans on becoming a pediatrician.		Tristen Myers: Missing from Roseboro, NC since 10/5/00, loves to swim, ride horses, and go to the movies.
	Ashley Martinez: Missing from Saint Joseph MO, since 7/6/04, teen with a magnetic personality who loves her pets and get togethers with her friends.		LaQuanta Riley: Missing from Montgomery, AL since 12/7/03, loves cooking and music, desires to have a career in criminal justice.
	Amanda Berry: Missing from Cleveland, OH, since 4/21/03, dreams of becoming a clothing designer and a big fan of Eminem.		Audrey May Herron, missing from Catskill, NY, since 8/2/02, beautiful young mother of three children and a nurse by trade, active with local Girl Scouts.
	George Zelaya: Missing from Homosassa, FL since 1/13/05, father of five, enjoys watching football on TV, especially the WA Redskins.		Patricia Marie Viola: Missing from Bogota, NJ since 2/13/01, beautiful mother of 2, secretary, active in school system & Cub Scouts, loves 50's music, roller coasters, & Georgio perfume.
	Jennifer and Adrianna Wix, missing from Cross Plains, TN since 03/25/04, mother and daughter, loved and missed by their family.		Sarah Kinslow: Missing from Greenville, TX since 5/01/01, a gifted and award winning singer and pianist who also loves camping and animals.
	Mark Degner: Missing from Jacksonville, FL since 2/10/05, enjoys playing Game Boy and Playstation, riding his bike, going fishing, and playing basketball.		Kynande Bennett: Missing from Whiteville, NC since 9/29/02, a happy, curious, loving child who loves Sponge Bob Squarepants.
	Monica Carrasco, Missing from Balmorhea, TX since 10/1/2003. A multi-talented teen who plays sax, paints, and has a great love of the Bible.		Brianna Maitland: Missing from Montgomery, VT since 3/19/04, a free-spirited young woman who loves the holidays, water sports, and excels at martial arts.

Instructions for Families of the Missing who wish to include their missing loved one in the program:

In the summer of 2004, Project Jason went on a tour of the state of Nebraska which we called the Miles for the Missing State Tour. On this tour, we launched a program called "Adopt a Missing Person". When a young person (or any other person who wants to participate) came to our table, they read about and chose to "adopt" a missing person. We then gave them a free photo button to wear and an info sheet about their chosen missing person.

If you are a family member of a missing person, and would like to participate, this is what you need to send to us:

• At least 2-4 dozen photo buttons of your missing loved one.
• A laminated 8x11 information card.

The laminated card would include a photo of your loved one that matches the button photo if possible, plus the story of the person's disappearance and some personal information about them. This should be written geared to either children or adults, so please do not include information that could be confusing to children. Tell about your loved one's interests, hobbies, career, favorite movies, music, etc. so they could feel that they know their "Adopted Missing Person". You are also more than welcome to attach something to the button, such as a mini thank you note or website address if it is not already on your button.

When we take the program out in public, they can read the information on the cards and then decide who they want to adopt and take the corresponding button. We have them sign a simple guestbook with their name and the name of the missing loved one they are adopting. They will be encouraged to wear the button or affix it to their backpack or purse. It will be optional for them to add their email or physical address to the guestbook to forward to you so that you could write them and thank them if you can.

When someone comes to the Adopt a Missing Person page on our website, they are instructed to mail us a protected SASE along with the name(s) of who they wish to adopt. We will then mail them the button(s) and info sheet(s). A small photo and brief description of your loved one, plus a link to a website if applicable, will be made available to assist the person in their choice.

The adopter is asked to wear the button as often as they can, and be able to share some basic information about the person they adopted. This is another way to promote awareness of your missing loved one, plus start to educate the public about our mutual cause.

We are also looking for sponsors to make buttons for our missing person's families. If you know of anyone, please let them know our contact information.

If you are interested, or have any questions about the Adopt a Missing Loved One program, please email me at adopt@projectjason.org.

Photos of Adopters

Click on each photo to see high resolution photo