GreatCall Raises Awareness for Public Safety and Security with Donation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GreatCall, Inc., a leader in wireless services that enables its customers to stay connected, safe and healthy, today announced its commitment to help improve child safety through their support of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).  As part of a new partnership, GreatCall will donate $1 to NCMEC for each 5Star Urgent Response device sold.  This announcement comes in time for National Missing Children's Day, which has been observed on May 25th since it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and serves as a reminder to the nation to make child safety a priority.

John Walsh and his wife, Reve, are co-founders of NCMEC, which was created in 1984 following the abduction and murder of their 6-year-old son Adam.  Today, NCMEC is the leading nonprofit in the country that deals with the issues of missing children and sexual exploitation of children including providing valuable resources to law enforcement, educators, parents, children and others in the United States and internationally.

In a nationwide effort, John Walsh is promoting 5Star Urgent Response as an important element to increasing the safety of every family. "5Star truly changes the game on personal safety.  This groundbreaking product can literally save lives, and after 30 years of victim advocacy, I finally have a tool to share, and to keep families and children safe," said Walsh.

"We are honored to be working in partnership with an organization as incredible as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to help keep our children safe and better protected," said Bill Yates, VP Marketing and Sales at GreatCall. "Together with the National Center, we're committed to helping people be more prepared with 5Star Urgent Response. We as a company will continue to offer technologies that always empower users to feel safe, secure and confident in any situation they may find themselves in."

The donation will help NCMEC in their efforts to find missing children and help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, though many are recovered quickly, an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing each year – more than 2,000 children every day. An estimated 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before age 18.

"Helping keep children safe is a responsibility that we all share," said Ernie Allen, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. "We are grateful to the GreatCall team for taking the initiative to get involved and for serving as a role model for corporations to encourage change and make a difference in the lives of children."

GreatCall's 5Star Urgent Responder Keeps Families Safe
The 5Star Urgent Responder is a first-of-its-kind wireless safety device that is an easy, convenient, and affordable way to better protect yourself or those closest to you, particularly children. 

By simply pressing the button on the Responder, a child who may be lost, scared or confused can be immediately connected to highly-trained Certified Response Agents who will identify them and their location, conference in family or friends, dispatch 9-1-1 emergency service, access a nurse, or provide any additional assistance, if needed.

Key features also include:

• Online child locator – parents can login and find the location of the device on a map
• Lightweight, and portable – easily fits in a child's pocket or clips to a backpack
• Personal profile – Emergency Response agents know who your child is and any important details in an emergency situation such as medications taken or known allergies 
• 2-way communication – your child is actually speaking with an agent who will assess the situation and get them the help they need
• Peace of mind - when you can't be there for them

To learn more about all available GreatCall products and services, please visit: http://www.greatcall.com/Mobile_apps/

To access company logo and high-resolution images and screen shots, please visit: www.greatcall.com/assets

Follow GreatCall on Twitter: @GreatCallInc; and on Facebook: facebook.com/greatcall 

About GreatCall, Inc.

GreatCall is a company of "People You Can Count On" to deliver wireless services that help keep customers connected, safe and healthy™. The company stands apart from other wireless services providers through its simplified, personalized and humanized approach, as well as its commitment to providing a high quality customer service experience. The company has been widely praised for its ability to deliver the benefits of innovation and technology in a meaningful and easy-to-use format. GreatCall has received prominent national media accolades from the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, The New York Times, Washington Post and major TV broadcast networks.

GreatCall's services, apps, and cell phone handsets, including  The 5Star™ and The Jitterbug™ are sold nationwide at leading retailers such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears, Meijer, Radio Shack Dealer Franchise, Fry's Electronics and ShopKo, as well as direct to consumers at 1-800-918-8543 and online at GreatCall.com. Service coverage includes the U.S. and Canada. GreatCall is located in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit www.GreatCall.com.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1984.  Designated by Congress to serve as the nation's clearinghouse, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children's hotline which has handled more than 3,568,780 calls.  It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 175,230 children.  The organization's CyberTipline has handled more than 1,421,380 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 68,680,890 child pornography images and videos.  The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice's office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.  To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com.

SOURCE GreatCall, Inc.