September 6, 2013
Our kids grow up so fast, don’t they? One minute, they’re learning to tie shoelaces, and the next they’re young adults, ready to take on the world.
My wife, Allison, and I sent our oldest daughter to college a few weeks ago. Amid all of the packing, planning, and last-minute shopping trips, my daughter heard more than one person tell her that college will be “the best four years of your life”.
The first year of college is an exciting (and often nerve-wracking) time – for both students and families. It’s a year of new independence, new experiences, and new challenges.
It’s my hope – every parent’s hope – that she has the best experience of her life. Unfortunately that is not always the case, and for Jeanne Clery, her family, and friends, we lived a nightmare that we all have now committed ourselves to see never happen again.
Sadly, too many students face the all-too-real truth that college campuses are not safe havens. Crime and danger pervade, and the impact of sexual assault, alcohol and drug use, violence, and hazing is devastating and far-reaching:
- An estimated 20-25% of women will experience attempted and/or completed rape during their college career;
- 55% of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing; and
- Over 1,800 college students die each year from alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle accidents.
As a parent, nothing matters more than your child’s safety. That’s why I’m proud to support the Clery Center for Security On Campus in their efforts to create safer campuses for students across the country – and ask you to join me by giving $100, $250, $500 or more to sustain the organization’s critical mission.
Because of you, the Clery Center continues to serve as the nation’s leading voice and advocate for student safety on college campuses. The Center’s outreach activities, trainings, and advocacy services assist thousands of individuals each year.
Your generous gift would go a long way in helping us continue these vital efforts. Your gift of $100, $250, $500 or more will make all the difference as we continue to make important strides in the fight to provide safe learning environments for all students.
Your support will help the Clery Center continue its efforts to engage students, families, campus leaders, and others in the vital conversation about campus security.
This September marks the 8th annual National Campus Safety Awareness Month, an initiative started by students and championed by the Clery Center. This year, we are proud to partner with over 300 colleges and universities across 47 states to increase students’ awareness of campus crime, and empower them to step up and make a difference in their communities. That number represents a 300% increase over 2012, when we partnered with just over 100 institutions.
As the demand for our programs – including National Campus Safety Awareness Month – continues to increase, so do the financial needs of the organization. Please consider making a gift in honor of a survivor you may know, a victim you may not know, or a student preparing to start their first year in college.
Thank you for your incredible support and dedication. We hope we can once again rely on your generosity to continue to make a positive impact on campus safety.
Warm regards,
Andrew Cagnetta
CEO, Transworld Business Advisors
Board Member, Clery Center for Security On Campus
P.S. You can learn more about the Clery Center’s ongoing programs, including updates on National Campus Safety Awareness Month, by visiting our website at www.clerycenter.org. While you’re there, you can visit our “Donate” page to make an online contribution to support our work!
Andy Cagnetta owns and operates Transworld Business Advisors. He joined the company as a sales associate and later purchased it. Transworld is an international franchise business and franchise brokerage, with thousands of businesses for sale and franchisees in the United States and Internationally.
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