Updated: 13 April 2008
This award is intended to recognize a Wisconsin citizen or group who has demonstrated exemplary citizenship. This individual/group exemplifies the core principles of social studies by promoting the common good, protecting individual liberty, honoring diversity, and improving the quality of life for others, thereby enriching the community, state, nation, and/or world. The individual/group demonstrates uncommon compassion, moral fortitude, and integrity.
Since any award having to do with exemplary citizenship is by its very nature broad in scope, the following ideals have been included to illuminate the spirit of the award.
2008 Global Citizenship Award: Jay M. Breyer, Missing Persons Network. Jay has been intimately involved in the prevention and rescue of missing children and adults since he helped found the Youth Educated in Safety program in 1994. Y.E.S. was founded following the abduction, assault and murder of 12 year old Cora Jones, Amy Breyer and Laurie Depies. The organization has grown and evolved into the Missing Persons Network of Wisconsin of which Jay is the Executive Director. They have provided thousands of children with photo Kid Care IDs and DNA Life Print IDs. By 2002, they had distributed their 25,000th kit. Jay is tireless in his volunteer activities including the Boy Scouts, the Lutheran Church, Lions Club, Bubolz Nature Preserve and many more. In addition, his personal interests include Writing Poetry-Nationally Published Poet, Beekeeper, Maple Syrup Producer, Puppeteer and acting. Jay has been married to Molly for 25 years and has 4 children. He has been a Partner in Tile Unlimited for 25 years. When Jay was told he would receive the 1st WCSS Global Citizenship Award, he was overwhelmed because it came from teachers and he wrote the following:
"Overall, we have been involved in the education of over 70,000 children and adults and have helped search for and recover 350 missing children and adults. I have dedicated my life in search for the recovery of missing and exploited children and adults. I am no hero, but a person that made a promise to a little girl at her funeral that I would not give up because I knew she fouth for her life with every last ounce of her life. We have no choice but to fight for that same right to be safe and empower ourselves not only to protect but to prevent our chilren from being victims. It is hard to reflect on a resume because there are so many things others have done to help me continue, so this recognition is not only for me but many others who have given all they could to help us do what we do best, fight for the safety of our children and to bring them home when they are missing." Missing Persons Network, PO Box 773, Appleton, WI 54912. yes3124@aol.com