Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign

The Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign is aimed at bringing awareness to the community regarding the issue of missing children and how one can safeguard their child from predators, on-line or in the streets, which seek to harm their love ones. In the year 2007, 60,582 cases of missing children were reported to the RCMP National Missing Children Services, of which 21,293 were recorded here in the Province of Ontario alone.

We all can play a vital role in publicizing this issue in our communities, as well as promoting child safety. We would like you to encourage colleagues and friends to wear a green ribbon during the month of May and help keep this tradition alive. May is the month that we all, symbolically can give hope to all families of missing children. Ribbons, stickers and posters are available free of charge from Child Find Ontario. Click here for order form and fax back to Child Find Ontario at (905) 712-3462.

For those that wish to make a financial contribution to aid us in our mission to reduce the incidence of missing and exploited children or help off set the cost of supplies, we invite them to participate in a fund raising campaign to solicit donations by placing easy-to-assemble donation boxes in their location. Green Ribbon "Spirit of Hope" wrist bands are also available for a nominal donation of $2.00 each.

On behalf of the families whose children are missing, Child Find Ontario does appreciate the support of you and your colleagues during the month of May helping to bring the message of missing children to the forefront. For further information on Child Find Ontario or the Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign contact us at 1-866-KID-TIPS (543-8477).

History Of The Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign
The Green Ribbon of Hope™ Campaign was developed by the students of Holy Cross Secondary School in St. Catharines, after the 1992 disappearance of Kristen French. During the search for Kristen, her fellow students, teachers and friends chose as their symbol the Green Ribbon of Hope. Thanks to the efforts of the students of Holy Cross Secondary School, Kristen's memory lives on and the Green Ribbon of Hope has become a symbol of hope for all missing children and their families. The students of Holy Cross Secondary School have given Child Find the exclusive rights to the Green Ribbon of Hope.

The Green Ribbon Campaign, particularly the green symbol has been trademarked by Child Find and may not be used by any other institution or organization without expressed written consent of CHILD FINDCANADA INC.

National Missing Children's Day
National Missing Children's Day takes place during the Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign each May. Ronald Reagan, the President of United States proclaimed May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day in 1983. Canada followed in 1986 when the Solicitor General Perrin Beatty decreed May 25th as National Missing Children’s Day in this Nation. May 25th marks the anniversary of the day that Etan Patz disappeared in 1979 from the streets of New York and as yet to be found. Child oriented organizations recognizes May 25th as an effort to raise the level of public awareness about the issue of child safety and of missing children. May 25th is dedicated to all missing children with the hope that they will all be re-united with their searching parents.

Why A Green Ribbon?
Green is a symbol of hope for the safe return of all missing children. Traditionally, the colour green is a symbol of nature and signifies the hope of eternal life. In heraldry, green symbolizes youth and hope and the Oxford dictionary signifies green as representing "young, flourishing and vigor". The World Book Encyclopedia describes green as the symbol for safety. During the month of May, Child Find distributes over 100,000 green ribbons throughout Ontario. The goal of this campaign is that green ribbons will become universally recognized and associated with missing children (as red ribbons are for AIDS awareness or blue ribbons are for the support of local police agencies).