Pivot Point International, a worldwide leader in cosmetology education since 1962, will hold a nationwide Cut-a-Thon on May 22, 2014 to support the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Pivot Point cosmetology students around the country will participate in the annual event, and all funds raised through student salon services that day will be donated to NCMEC.
Staff and students at Pivot Point Academies in Evanston IL, and Bloomingdale, IL, will lead the effort. The Evanston campus is hosting an event with speakers including Linda Krieg, NCMEC’s COO, and Alicia Kozakiewicz, a survivor of an Internet luring and abduction at the age of 13, who is now an advocate for Internet safety and awareness education.
Pivot Point Member Schools throughout the country are also supporting the cause. Last year, more than 100 Pivot Point and American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) schools and salons across the nation participated in fundraising for NCMEC. Pivot Point expects 50 schools to participate this year. The public can find a participating school near them by visiting the website at http://www.pivot-point.com/cares-for-kids-home-page.html
Pivot Point Cares for Kids
“Pivot Point became involved with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 1997, when my late sister Corrine created the Pivot Point Cares for Kids program,” said Pivot Point Chairman and CEO Robert Passage. “We have raised more than $1,000,000 to support the work of this organization. It is also our goal to educate our industry and consumers, through Pivot Point students, on the amazing work of the National Center, and to encourage participation in raising funds for an organization that helps so many.”
Pivot Point has a wide range of volunteer programs for its students, with NCMEC being a main recipient. In addition to the annual Cut-a-Thon, students also conduct donation campaigns and can-collection drives. Volunteering gives students an opportunity to build a clientele, raise money for a great cause, and meet a wide array of people and other volunteers.
Facts on Missing and Exploited Children
Last year, there were more than 400,000 missing children reported to law enforcement in the U.S. In addition, U.S. law enforcement has seen a dramatic increase in cases of sexual exploitation of children in recent years, including child pornography, online enticement and child sex trafficking. The Internet has also become a tool for exploitation with one in 25 children, ages 10 to 17, having received an online sexual solicitation where the solicitor tried to make offline contact.
For information on how to get involved with this worthy cause, or on Pivot Point’s educational programs throughout the year, visit pivot-point.com
