Aug 3, 2006 1:22 am US/Central
Wetterling Foundation To Change Its Name
St. Paul (AP) ―
The Jacob Wetterling Foundation is changing its name because its focus has broadened from child abduction to keeping children safe, executive director Nancy Sabin said Wednesday.
The change -- under discussion for several years -- comes with the blessing of Patty and Jerry Wetterling, who founded the nonprofit after their son Jacob was abducted near his rural St. Joseph, Minn. home in October 1989.
"It's time, once and for all, to let the general public know that the work of this foundation is not centered around Jacob, but around all missing children and the exploitation issues that lead to abductions," said Jerry Wetterling, a St. Joseph chiropractor.
"We need a name that reflects what we do, and the majority of what we do is prevention education," Sabin said. "Our name was causing people to focus more on one child than on all missing children."
The new name, not yet selected, is expected to be announced in late summer or early fall. The foundation hopes to make the change before the 6th District congressional race between Patty Wetterling, a DFLer, and state Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, heats up.
"This is a nonpartisan organization," Sabin said. Neither Wetterling is a current board member of the foundation.
Since her 11-year-old son's abduction, Patty Wetterling has become a nationally known advocate for missing children.
"Organizations grow and change," Patty Wetterling said, referring to the foundation, which has revenues of about $400,000 per year. "The name change is a good step, a healthy step."
The foundation moved its headquarters from St. Joseph to St. Paul three years ago.
"Just like its location to St. Paul, a new name will help Jacob's foundation help more families," said St. Joseph Mayor Richard Carlbom. "But people in St. Joseph will, for a long time, think of Jacob's foundation as our own. Changing the name of the foundation will never change that."
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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