FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2006

Child Lures Prevention Team Wins Emmy Award

SHELBURNE, VT: Ken Wooden, Rosemary Webb, Jennifer Mitchell and Midwest Representative Cynthia Patrasso of Child Lures Prevention were honored Sunday night with an Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for their contributions to Smart Choices, Safe Kids: A Child Lures Prevention Town Hall Meeting. (Watch Excerpts)

The Child Lures Prevention Town Hall Meeting, a collaboration with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, First Lady Patty Blagojevich, and NBC5 Chicago, won in the category of Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Public Affairs/Current Affairs.

Child Lures Prevention creator Ken Wooden was in Chicago to accept his Emmy Award as co-Executive Producer of the Town Hall Meeting. "This award validates what we have believed all along: keeping kids safe from sexual predators is the #1 concern of viewers, particularly parents. Kudos to Governor and First Lady Blagojevich and NBC5 for making child personal safety a priority in Illinois!"

WATCH EXCERPT: WATCH: Windows | .MOV

The Town Hall Meeting kicked off Illinois' statewide Child Lures Prevention campaign last September, which also partnered with the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois State Police, the Department of Children & Family Services, the Department of Human Services, and the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority. These entities collaborated to put a Child Lures Prevention School Program kit in all 3220 public elementary and middle schools throughout Illinois.

Wooden's daughters and colleagues of over twenty years co-produced the broadcast. Rosemary Wooden Webb, exclaimed, "It was a powerful feeling to work on such an important project with so many dedicated individuals, many of them behind-the-scenes. Everyone truly put their hearts and souls into this project – for the kids. To me, this Emmy Award embodies the importance of the prevention work we do."

Upon hearing of the Emmy Award win, co-producer Jennifer Wooden Mitchell declared, "What an honor! This was an exciting project where we were able to harness the power of the media to help heighten awareness and provide vital prevention education to children and families on a statewide level. I hope other local and state leaders will feel compelled to duplicate the proactive leadership of Gov. Rod Blagojevich."

"Cheers to NBC-5, the Governor's office and Team Wooden. It was a privilege bringing together all the parties in this initiative," said Cynthia Patrasso, Supervising Producer and longtime Child Lures Prevention associate. "This really goes way back to when Ken was a frequent DONAHUE guest, where we met over 20 years ago. Ken Wooden and the credibility of his efforts have stood the test of time. I will continue to beat the Child Lures Prevention drum for the rest of my days. Nothing could be more important."

In June, Smart Choices, Safe Kids: A Child Lures Prevention Town Hall Meeting was also awarded the prestigious Gracie Award by AWRT, American Women in Radio and Television.

Over the years, Child Lures Prevention's Think First & Stay Safe! Television News Series has won First Place for Public Affairs Broadcasting from the New York State Broadcaster's Association, an Advancement of Learning Through Broadcasting Award from the NEA, and Religion in Media's Angel Award.

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Mitchell
Child Lures Prevention
5166 Shelburne Road
Shelburne, VT 05482
Phone: 802-985-8458
jennifer@childluresprevention.com
www.childluresprevention.com