NCMEC, USPS and ADVO Unveil Changes to the "Have You Seen Me?" Mail Program Photos of Missing Children will be Larger and in Full Color on the ShopWise Mail Circular

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), the United States Postal Service (USPS) and ADVO today announced changes to the “Have You Seen Me?” mail program. Beginning May 14, photos of America’s missing children will be larger, in full color and prominently featured on page four of ADVO’s ShopWise mail circular. Previously, the photos were smaller and printed in black and white on a detached address label, familiar to most Americans as the white Missing Child Card they receive in the mail.

“ADVO has been a long time partner of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and we are grateful for their continued commitment to the Missing Children Program and our shared mission,” said John Walsh, Co-Founder of NCMEC and host of television’s “America’s Most Wanted. ”It’s a program that truly makes a difference in reuniting missing children with their loved ones. We now ask every American to make a conscious effort to look for the photos of missing children in the new location. Taking just 10 seconds to look at the photo may be enough to recognize a missing child and help bring them home"

As a direct result of leads generated by the “Have You Seen Me?” program, 144 missing children to date have been safely recovered. According to NCMEC, photos are the number one tool parents and law enforcement officials have in their search for missing children. By featuring recent or age-progressed photos of missing children and their alleged abductors, the program empowers the American public to help safely recover missing children.

“ADVO has the power to reach 114 million American homes every month. Our expansive reach is why this public service program works. After more than 20 years of success, we’re excited to see this program evolve,” said Rob Mason, ADVO President. “These enhanced photos provide even more hope that these children will be found and reunited with their families.”

“The success of this program is evidence of the power of mail,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter. “Everyone can help bring home America’s missing children by looking for these new pictures in their mailbox.”

ADVO’s ’Have You Seen Me?’ pictures of missing children are delivered regularly to more than 90% of American homes as part of the ShopWise® mail circular. Since the program’s inception in 1985, ADVO has mailed more than 80 billion photos profiling over 1,500 of America’s missing children. The newly designed mail circular improves the program’s visibility and overall cost-effectiveness. After a 22-year partnership, NCMEC, USPS and ADVO continue to work together to find ways to evolve and enhance the Missing Children Program.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. NCMEC’s congressionally mandated CyberTipline, a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation, has handled more than 475,000 leads. Since its establishment in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 130,300 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 112,900 children. For more information about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its website at www.missingkids.com.