As many of you know, nothing has been more important or nearer to my heart than the work I’ve been privileged to do to keep our children and communities safer. For many years, an important part of that work was my volunteer service with the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, an organization that my husband, Jerry, and I helped to found and care deeply about. In recent days, some have tried to create a controversy where there is none because of a planned name change at the foundation. Jerry and I would like to clarify the situation by releasing the following statement: The Jacob Wetterling Foundation board and staff have the family’s blessings on their search for a new name. Since Oct. 22, 1989, our family, and especially Jacob, have been lifted up in prayer and support while we have searched for our son. On Feb. 17, 1990, we officially announced the formation of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation to further our work to stop sexual exploitation and abduction of children. Our primary purpose was education and we shared so much with the many communities around the state and nation. Jerry and I served on the board and I was able to volunteer my services for many years to getting our message out. We work closely with many agencies and of course the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Our goal from day one when we first learned about the magnitude of the problem has been to seek solutions to stop crimes against children and to form an organization that would far outlast our family and our personal story. We learned quickly that this was bigger than Jacob. As is the case with many non-profit organizations there are challenges after the first wave of support. We learned that one of the challenges was our name. Many people today still think that the purpose of the foundation is to find Jacob and that is simply not true. JWF has assisted thousands of families with missing children or child safety concerns and has delivered safety programs to literally hundreds of thousands of parents and children throughout the Midwest. About 10 years ago, Jerry and I suggested to the board that they might want to consider a name that better reflects their work. There was so much heartfelt support for Jacob and our family that no one wanted that drastic a change but the idea would resurface from time to time. I serve on the board of directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and experienced the merger with the Adam Walsh Centers across the country. This merger and name change happened at the request of the Walsh family and it successfully transitioned to become one loud voice for children. Jerry and I want to thank the thousands of supporters of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation over the past 16 years. We pray every day for Jacob and for the safety of all of our children. We are so proud of the work that we have all been involved with, and our hearts are warmed by all of the dedicated board members, employees and volunteers over the last 16 years. Jerry remains a volunteer helping where he can as JWF moves forward. We give JWF our blessings and support. It is a wonderful time to grow and deliver a name that reflects the growth of the prevention work and energy dedicated to building a safer world for all of our children.
Editor’s note: Patty Wetterling (DFL) is running for the U.S. House in the Sixth District, which includes the Annandale-South Haven area.
