Texas Missing Persons Foundation Forming

New Non Profit To Aid In Finding Missing Family Members

HOUSTON, TX - 2/24/2016 -- Ralph Baird, a philanthropist from Texas, has founded a new, non-profit organization, with the primary goal of helping families find their missing loved ones.  

The new organization, founded under Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Laws as non profit organization, is named the Texas Missing Persons Foundation (TXMP).

Baird says the organization has a goal of providing "Another Pair of Eyes" for authorities searching for missing people.  TXMP will manage and direct all funds received to expedite the search for missing persons by experienced volunteer 501(c)(3) organizations, such as Texas EquuSearch.  The volunteers always work in collaboration and in cooperation with law enforcement agencies.

At first blush, one would wonder why law enforcement needs volunteers.  However, agencies are strapped for funds as it is.  Many are not set up for the kind of large scale and labor intensive searches or high tech searches which the fund and organizations like Texas EquuSearch can provide.

The TXMP Foundation will be run by three (3) advocates who will serve as the Board of Directors and Officers of the Foundation.  The Board will have full discretion for disbursement of the funds it generates. To start things off, the founder/director has named two (2) Texans to serve on the initial Board of Directors. Those two people are Maureen Callaghan and Jack Hall.

The Texas Missing Persons Foundation is dedicated to improving the technology and expediting the search for missing loved ones by a collaboration of public and private agencies. The Foundation will complement and support the interests of the families and friends of missing persons. It will provide financial support to qualified search teams and other 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

The TXMP Foundation is in the process of establishing a charitable endowment to acquire and build a national training center.  The purpose of the center is the teaching and exchanging of past experiences of private and public agencies in a "hands-on" workshop format.  The idea is to use modern technology and teaching tactics to train a new generation of search coordinators.  Past search volunteers will pass their knowledge to the next generation of private searchers, public agencies and law enforcement.

It is not known exactly how many people go missing every year.  Not all missing people are reported.  Children and minorities are disproportionately represented, though any family from any walk of life could experience the trauma of a missing person at any time.  The estimated number of children alone is over 400,000 per year.  Families from all socio-economic groups are affected.  All families share one thing in common: The pain and angst caused by a missing loved one.

For more information contact Ralph Baird, TXMP Foundation.  Phone: (713) 461-1784

Email: ralph@txmp.org
Website: http://www.txmp.org

#beablackburnranger2016 Tim Paynter

Hi, all, I am trying out for #beablackburnranger2016. This is a brand ambassador for the bicycle accessories company, Blackburn Design. Each year, as a way of giving a little back to the community, Blackburn Design selects 6 people to represent them as brand ambassadors.

 I think I would be a great brand ambassador because I am a fanatic about bicycle riding and bicycle touring. In fact, this year, I took a long distance trip over Vail Pass to the hot spring city of Glenwood Springs. 

 Colorado has been a great leader in creating safe spaces for bicycle riders. I would like to advocate for all bike riders in creating a national system of routes and trails made just for the wheels of the non-motorized community. That includes skateboarders, kayakers, fishermen, and of course, all forms of two and three-wheel transportation. 

Whether or not Blackburn chooses me, I will do the same things. I will be "out there" in the land I love, living life. To me, that is a lot more important than using my right hand to click a mouse, while the rest of my body withers.  However, as a journalist, getting the nod from Blackburn Design will help me gain a bigger voice in advocating for the community.

While I am on the topic of advocating, I got a nice note from the Warm Showers community.  They are a non-profit organization which encourages members to offer their homes to touring cyclist.  The word is touring, this is not Motel 6.  Instead, Warm Showers is a chance for touring cyclist to meet advocates for the sport.  It is not just riding a bike through spectacular country that counts, it is the people you meet along the way.  Everyone has a story.  I would like to tell many of yours.

Please let Blackburn Design know you think I will make a good ranger candidate.  Through my years I have advocated for many causes, but I am the worst at advocating for myself.  I need your help to do that!  Please help me share the attached photograph.

Please share!  Thanks!

My best wishes to all the people who apply to be Rangers.  Each deserves this great chance.  Each of us wants to be "out there", going farther, doing more and being prepared for anything.  Each of us seeks to advance the sport of bicycle touring!

My Blackburn Ranger 2016 video is Here.

You can check out the Warm Showers program Here.

You can check out the Adventure Cycling Association Here.

You can APPLY to #beablackburnranger2016 Here.