Child Safety Network Appoints New President

SAN DIEGO, March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Child Safety Network (CSN) appoints Azim Khamisa as President. Azim Khamisa, who worked with CSN over 20 years ago, returns to CSN after a life changing event that has made Azim the most qualified and motivated leader for CSN's continuing mission to make America a safer place for children to live.

Azim Khamisa was born in Kenya and educated in England and had a successful career as an international investment banker and finance expert. For several years leading up to a personal tragedy that claimed the life of his only son – Tariq Khamisa, Azim consulted with CSN as its Chief Financial Officer.

After working with CSN for several years, Azim's life changed when on Jan 21^st, 1995 a 14-year-old gang member murdered Azim's son - Tariq Khamisa. Tariq was earning extra money delivering pizza at night to help put himself through school at San Diego State University when an 18-year-old gang leader gave the order for the 14-year-old gang member to murder Tariq because he refused to give up his money from delivering pizza.

"CSN's staff and Ward Leber, the founder of CSN were key to the investigation and capture of my son's killer (Tony Hicks). At the time, the police could find no witnesses. Even if there were any, they would not want to talk to police in fear of retribution from the gang. Ward immediately hit the airwaves and invited anyone with information to contact CSN. From there, the CSN staff gained the trust of a young girl that overheard the killer bragging about the murder and interacted with law enforcement and the District Attorney office to affect a successful arrest and conviction. Without CSN's intervention my son's murder might have remained unsolved," said Azim.

This tragedy led Azim to create the Tariq Khamisa Foundation which is the single most effective organization in the prevention of youth violence. They literally take the nation's most "at-risk" youth and turn their lives around, making them peaceful, successful, productive citizens. Without the programs that Azim helped to create, there is an 80%-90% chance that a youth offender will return to a life of crime when placed in the juvenile justice system.

Using a unique program co-founded by Azim called C.A.N.E.I. (Constant And Never Ending Improvement); even the most hardened criminal youths have a 70% to 80% chance of leading a drug-free, violence free, gang-free productive life.

U.S. Congressman Tony Cardenas said: "The Los Angeles City Council honored Mr. Azim Khamisa for his life saving work on behalf of at risk youth. Azim's dedication and love for our children is unmatched by anyone in our country's history. I am heartened and encouraged to know that my friend Azim is rejoining Child Safety Network as their President. Azim and the dedicated child advocates at CSN will be a powerful force for profound positive change for all of America's children."

Ward Leber will remain at work full-time as the Founder of CSN and Azim Khamisa will remain the Founder of TKF. To add to Azim's skill with finance, his 17-year journey developing anti-youth violence programs have lead him to receive over 65 humanitarian awards from people and organizations as diverse as the Dalai Lama, the White House, Children's Defense Fund, US Department of Justice, Child Safety Network and many others. For a list of awards see: http://www.azimkhamisa.com/topics/view/17773/. Azim has also authored four books, provided over 400 key note speeches and is an expert at non-profit development and management.

"Ward's vision to build a 'National Center for Child Safety and Parenting' is one that I wholeheartedly share. There are not enough resources for parents these days and the dangers that face our kids are not going away. Most of us agree that we were safer growing up than our kids are today. With new technology comes new opportunity; and also new dangers to our children. Therefore, my first order of business will be to improve and expand www.csn.org and to continuously provide free access to information, programs, and resources that can benefit children, youth, parents, and grandparents," said Azim.

About CSN: www.csn.org Since 1989 CSN has worked diligently to reduce the likelihood of children becoming victims of abuse, abduction, injury and exploitation. We accomplish this by providing free child safety educational services, programs and resources to children and parents throughout the United States. Millions of families have benefited from the diligent work of CSN and its volunteers. Over 300 U.S. representatives including the office of the president have endorsed the lifesaving efforts of CSN. CSN also works with law enforcement, educators, PTA members, and schools and has received help from over 200 celebrities including Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, The Cast of American Idol and many more.

About TKF: www.tkf.org

CONTACT:
Child Safety Network
800-906-6901
[email protected]

SOURCE Child Safety Network