Marc Klaas

Marc Klaas

"In the aftermath of the October 1, 1993 kidnap and murder of his twelve-year-old daughter Polly, Marc Klaas gave up his lucrative rental car franchise to dedicate his life toward preventing future tragedies. In September 1994, Mr. Klaas founded the Sausalito, California based non-profit KlaasKids Foundation with the singular mission of stopping crimes against children. “Polly gave meaning to her life, but I am the one who will give meaning to her death,” explains Klaas. “Through the KlaasKids Foundation we can create her legacy and ensure that her death was not in vain.”

"Through federal and state legislative efforts Mr. Klaas and the KlaasKids Foundation have promoted prevention programs for at-risk youth, stronger sentencing for violent criminals and governmental accountability and responsibility. Often times this advocacy takes the form of congressional or other legislative testimony.

"Mr. Klaas has appeared on virtually every network television newsmagazine, syndicated talk show and is regularly called upon as a resource for CNN, FOX, MSNBC and CNBC cable news channels advocating on behalf of missing children, abused children and victim’s rights. He has written for Newsweek Magazine and published numerous editorial opinions for newspapers as diverse as the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Mr. Klaas is a sought after speaker and has shared a podium with California’s former Governor Pete Wilson, New York Governor George Pataki, US Attorney General Janet Reno and President Bill Clinton...

"Besides his duties as president and executive director of the KlaasKids Foundation, Mr. Klaas sits on the advisory boards of the Center for the Community Interest; Fight Crime Invest in Kids, the Crime Victims Report and the Lost Children's Network. Mr. Klaas is also a member of Team H.O.P.E., an OJJDP Program to assist the families of kidnapped children and president of Beyond Missing, Inc."