Mission 500 Keeps its Momentum in 2010 at Expo Seguridad Mexico

After raising $18,600 at Expo Seguridad Mexico, hosted at the Banamex convention center in Mexico City, Mission 500 brought its total raised in 2010 to more than $70,000. Mission 500 has been on a roll, raising money at events that included the run for Haiti in Miami, Security 5K at ISC Las Vegas and the Mexico effort. The $70,000 raised so far this year excludes ongoing child sponsorship programs implemented by many sponsoring companies.

 At Expo Seguridad Mexico, a majority of the money was raised at the annual Expo Seguridad awards dinner, with sales of tickets raising $10,000. Raffles and donated merchandise sales also generated money.

On April 23, the day after the show, Alan Forman, president of Altronix, and Glenn Patrizio, director of sales for LRG International, joined George and Andrea Fletcher to visit a World Vision project in Tulpetlac, about 45 minutes from downtown Mexico City. The local community center helps to support mothers and children who live in an area with no water or electricity in many of the homes. At the community center, secretarial, computer, sewing and beauty classes are held for woman looking to find ways to make a living. Children also come to the center to learn arts and crafts, play and receive basic medical attention.
 Forman described the visit as one of the most moving experiences in his life. After the visit Giprex, the organizers of Expo Seguridad Mexico, committed another $5,000 to help the program.

Mission 500 is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of children and communities in crisis. By using its intimate knowledge of the security industry, it has helped focus industry efforts on sponsoring at least 500 Children in World Vision’s program—with 100 percent of funds raised going directly to World Vision. Through corporate sponsorships and donors, the volunteer-driven initiative has increased the number of sponsored children to more than 270. For more information on contributions or sponsorships, please visit  www.mission500.org.