Nick Swisher donates $25,000 to FBI Citizens Academy for purchase of child identification kits

Cleveland Indians first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher has donated $25,000 to the FBI Citizens Academy Foundation (FBICAF) in support of the FBI's Child ID Kit program.

The kits will be distributed at the Indians-Cincinnati Reds game Thursday at Progressive Field and throughout the Cleveland community by the FBICAF, FBI and partnering organizations.

Each kit includes an inkless fingerprinting card, a DNA collection envelope and a cutout wallet card. If needed, the completed ID kit can immediately give authorities the vital information they need to assist in their efforts to locate a missing child.

The FBICAF and FBI will recognize Swisher with an award during a pregame ceremony Wednesday, for his commitment to protect Cleveland-area children.

"We are extremely grateful for Nick's commitment to the Cleveland community and his partnership with the FBICAF," said Steve Williger, Chairman of the Board of the FBICAF. "Through his efforts, many local families will have the assurance of knowing they have vital information they can provide to law enforcement authorities should anything happen to their child."

"Being involved with the Child ID program was a no-brainer for me," said Swisher. "Protecting and helping children is something that's just instinctive - but now that I'm about to be a Dad for the first time, it takes on a whole new meaning. I am proud to be a part of this."

The FBI Citizens' Academy Foundation of Cleveland was formed in December, 2004 and is a nonprofit public service organization with the goal of promoting safer communities in the greater Cleveland metropolitan area. The members believe this can be accomplished by improving understanding and encouraging appreciation of law enforcement among the citizenry and community leaders.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) created the National Child Identification Program in 1997 to provide parents/guardians with a kit that records their children's physical characteristics, fingerprints and DNA and is kept at home with the parent. If ever needed, the Child ID Kit gives authorities vital information to assist their efforts to locate a missing child. In December 2001, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) joined in partnership with the AFCA to help increase child safety awareness. To date more than 30 million Child ID Kits have been distributed, making the National Child Identification Program the LARGEST child identification effort ever conducted.