The hand of God touched me on the day Polly was born. The first time I held her in my arms I experienced the power of unconditional love. This perfect baby was mine, and I would love and protect her forever. For me, this was the miracle of birth.
I was fortunate that Polly was my companion on this earthly pilgrimage. The strength of her commitment enhanced my understanding of the human condition and provided me with clarity of vision. The depth of her emotion taught me that caring for others could strengthen my own self worth and expand my horizons beyond material values. The purity of her love defined her final act. She faced her worst fears with courage worthy of the most seasoned combat veteran. On shaky knees, as the devil was stealing her into the night, her final words were, “Please don’t hurt my mother and sister.” My greatest teacher was only twelve years old.
On October 1, 1993, the angels dipped their wings over Petaluma and re-claimed one of their own. In life Polly shared her gifts with those who were touched by her presence but in death she touched us all. The welfare of a little lost girl surmounted religious, ethnic and political barriers. Millions of eyes were looking for her and millions of hands were clasped in prayer for her safe return. Her presence on earth set a course that millions of years of evolution, thousands of years of legislation and hundreds of years of struggle and strife couldn’t accomplish. She brought us together as one. These were Polly’s angels.
The nation’s anger rose like a phoenix in the wake of Polly’s tragedy and demanded answers. For sixty-five days we navigated the murky waters of despair toward a fate that tantalized us with glimmers of light, then doused our hopes with uncertain veils of darkness. Finally the prayers of Polly’s angels were answered, but not as we expected. Polly’s unselfish bravery in the face of doom provided the target and her commitment of love gave us the weapon to use in the eternal struggle between good and evil. In bitter irony we discovered that in order to win the war, we sometimes have to lose a battle.
Legislation
Pursue a criminal justice agenda designed to hold criminals accountable, aid the public in protecting themselves, and ensure safe streets and neighborhoods.
Key Accomplishments
- Although only the tip of the iceberg, both the “Three Strikes and You’re Out” law and Megan’s Law were significant legislative measures in the 1990s aimed at enhancing public safety.
- Megan’s Law has been effective in increasing public awareness about sex offenders, which can help communities take precautions and potentially deter offenders.
- The Three Strikes law did contribute to reducing crime rates, particularly in the short term, by incapacitating repeat offenders.
- Other significant legislative achievements include assisting President Clinton pass the omnibus 1994 Crime Act, the Amber Alert (State & Federal), the Adam Walsh Act, etc. Most recently CA SB 285, which excludes certain heinous criminals from resentencing consideration.
Search & Rescue
The KlaasKids Foundation’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team was a dedicated group that has been actively involved in search and rescue missions since the foundation’s inception in 1994.
Key Aspects of the SAR Team
- Mission: Their primary mission is to assist families in locating missing relatives. We participated in more than 1,500 Search & Rescue Missions.
- Professional Volunteers: The team trained more than 1,600 trained professional SAR volunteers.
- Impact: The team has played a crucial role in the recovery of 73 women and children involved in sex trafficking across the country.
- Resources: The foundation also provides a comprehensive Search & Rescue Community Resource Manual, which consolidates decades of knowledge to help communities organize effective volunteer search efforts.
Print-A-Thon
The KlaasKids Print-A-Thon was a significant initiative by the KlaasKids Foundation aimed at enhancing child safety. Here are some key details:
Key Features
- Free Fingerprinting and Photographing: The Print-A-Thon provided free fingerprinting and photographing services for children. This was done without storing any personal or private information.
- Wide Reach: Over the years, the program fingerprinted and photographed more than one million children.
- Community Engagement: The events were often held in community settings, making it easy for families to participate and ensuring a broad reach.
- Purpose: The primary goal was to create identification records that parents could use in case their child went missing. These records could be crucial for law enforcement in the initial stages of a search.
Media
Marc Klaas became a prominent figure in the media following his daughter’s tragic kidnapping and murder in 1993. He frequently appeared on television to advocate for child safety and to raise awareness about missing children.
- 1993 Onwards: Marc Klaas began making regular TV appearances shortly after Polly’s abduction in October 1993. His appearances were aimed at keeping the public informed about the search efforts and advocating for stronger child protection laws.
- Frequent Appearances: Over the years, he has been a frequent guest on shows like Larry King Live, CNN Headline News, Oprah, Phil Donahue, Leeza Gibbons, Nancy Grace, and more. These platforms allowed him to reach a wide audience and keep Polly’s story in the public eye.
- Advocacy and Awareness: His media presence has been instrumental in promoting legislative changes and supporting other families of missing children. He has continued to be a vocal advocate for child safety through the KlaasKids Foundation.
KlaasKids Website
Key Features: The KlaasKids Foundation website, KlaasKids.org, is a comprehensive resource dedicated to child safety, victim’s rights, and advocacy. KlaasKids.org was established in 1994. KlaasKids.org is a comprehensive resource dedicated to child safety and advocacy.
- Throughout its history KlaasKids.org remained one of the most popular websites through constant and regular updates, ever-expanding content, and groundbreaking legislative and SAR tools always available to the public at no cost.
Key Features
- Educational Resources: The website offers various safety tips and resources for parents and children, including DIY DNA kits and home fingerprint kits.
- Megan’s Law Information: It provides detailed information about Megan’s Law, including a comparative analysis of each state’s implementation and up-to-date sex offender statistics.
- Search and Rescue: KlaasKids offered no-cost SAR assistance through the website that assisted more than 1,500 families.
- Print-A-Thon: Although the Print-A-Thon program has been discontinued, it previously provided free fingerprinting and photographing services for over one million children.
Mission and Legacy
The foundation was established in 1994 in memory of Polly Klaas, with the mission to stop crimes against children and create a safer world for future generations. After 30 years of proactive involvement, the foundation will be closing its doors on December 31, 2024, but remains proud of its legacy and accomplishments.