'The future of our program is at stake and we need your help'

NEWS RELEASE

CRIME STOPPERS

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Crime Stoppers needs your help
 
SAULT STE. MARIE - Crime Stoppers, a community service program which helps solve and prevent crime in the community by combining the efforts of police, media and the public needs your help. 

Funded solely by tax exempt contributions from citizens, businesses and fundraising initiatives, the local Crime Stoppers of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District is currently facing financial uncertainty.

“Our financial crisis is a direct result of the success of our program,” states Len Bailey, president of the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors. “Last year alone we distributed more monetary rewards to tipsters for information leading to an arrest than we did in the previous four years combined.” 

Since the inception of the program in Sault Ste. Marie in 1985, Crime Stoppers has directly assisted in recovering over $9 million in stolen property, narcotics and weapons as a result of over 22,000 incoming anonymous tips.

To assist with operating expenses for the next 6 months, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board has granted an interest-free loan of $10,500 to the local Crime Stoppers program.

The funds will be used to ensure that Crime Stoppers will be able to operate without a disruption in service to either the police services or the community.

“It is business as usual,” stated Sgt. Mike Davey, program coordinator.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors has initiated an aggressive fundraising plan for the months ahead to not only repay the loan, but to bring the program closer towards financial stability.

“The future of our program is at stake and we need your help,” states Len Bailey.  

Retired from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service for over 18 years, Chair Len Bailey still holds Crime Stoppers near and dear to his heart.

Having spent close to 10 years as the Crime Stoppers Coordinator,  Len Bailey knows firsthand how important this program is to the Police Services and the community.

Custom Kitchen Raffle

One way our community can assist in the short-term is to support the Crime Stoppers Custom Kitchen raffle. 

Tickets are for sale at a cost of $20 per ticket.

With only 5000 tickets printed, one lucky winner will have a custom kitchen built by Lyons TimBR Mart  including the appliances from Sears Canada up to a maximum of $25,000 or $20,000 cash.

With a draw date of less than one month away (May 13, 2012), the Crime Stoppers program is optimistic that profits from this raffle will help alleviate some of the financial pressures.

“We have received phone calls from the concerned community members asking how they can help,” says Len Bailey. “Purchasing a ticket for our raffle is one way to have an immediate impact to help get us through the short term. As a Board, we are planning ahead and looking at options to ensure the program’s success in years ahead.”

Tickets are available for purchase at Lyons TimBr Mart, Sears Canada (on Northern Avenue), and CTV.

For more information regarding Crime Stoppers and the Custom Kitchen Raffle please contact Kendra Addison, administrative assistant at (705) 949-6300 ext. 211 or  [email protected].
 
About Crime Stoppers

Crime Stoppers of Sault Ste. Marie and the district of Algoma Inc. is a partnership of the public, the police and the media which provides the community with a proactive program for people to anonymously assist in the solving of crime and contribute to an improved quality of life in our community.

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit charitable organization, run by a board of directors comprised of involved citizens.

Crime Stoppers of Sault Ste. Marie and the District of Algoma Inc. have joined forces with the Northern International Crime Stoppers located in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan making it the only truly international program in the world.

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