ABOUT THE HEROES' AWARDS

Every year, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children^® (NCMEC) honors people who go above and beyond to help protect our nation’s most valuable resource - our children.

May 25th is Missing Children’s Day, during the month of May NCMEC will recognize men and women that displayed acts of heroism in helping find missing children, stopping child sexual exploitation and helping prevent crimes against children from happening. And one very brave child!

During our month-long campaign, NCMEC will host a weekly Hero Award video tribute to honor these amazing individuals. Tune in every Tuesday in May by visiting our Facebook page.

OUR HEROES

NCMEC is excited to celebrate our heroes all month long! Check back every week for a new video highlighting one of our Heroes' Award honorees who we believe has made a significant contribution to child safety. It's also our honor to shine a spotlight on our heroes in the survivor, law enforcement and industry communities. Please read their inspiring stories and help us celebrate the people who go above and beyond for children.

Honorees

Tune in every Tuesday in May for a new Heroes' Awards video tribute.

Two sanitation workers spotted a car based on an AMBER Alert, and helped to make sure the abducted child was recovered safely.

They will forever be remembered as heroes. Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger and Special Agent Daniel Alfin were shot at a Florida apartment complex last February as they were serving a warrant in a violent crimes against children investigation. Four other agents were wounded, and the gunman was later found dead after barricading himself inside the apartment. The incident was one of the deadliest in the FBI's history.

The U.S. Marshals service now has authority to help locate missing kids because of a 2015 law called, “The justice for victims of trafficking act.” the law was created to increase services for survivors of human trafficking. The marshals new push began last August in Georgia. The U.S. Marshals operations focus specifically on vulnerable children … kids in danger.