Thank you for taking time to become familiar with the mission and work of Families and Friends of Murdered Children and Victims of Violence.

Take a journey with me, and put yourself in my place. Your telephone rings and, the person on the other end asks for "Mrs. Smith." You respond, "this is she. Who is calling?" The caller says, "this is Officer Joe of the Rochester Police Department. We need you to come to Strong Memorial Hospital. Something has happened to your son."

Upon arriving at the hospital you are directed to the Quiet Room. Shortly after you get there a doctor enters and notifies you that your son has been killed. Until you see your child face-to-face, something inside you continues to hope that the news is not true.

Now, consider the thousands of mothers and fathers that send children to school each day fearing that those children may never return. No parent should have to wonder if their child will reach adulthood. The greatest concerns a parent should face are about what college their child will attend, or who their child will marry.

In 1990, Clara Crittenden, another mother and Rochester native who lost two children to violence, and I started meeting in the kitchen of my house. Word of our meetings spread, and soon a group of parents that suffered the loss of a loved one were meeting. As the numbers grew, we had to move from my kitchen to my garage. I realized that this was a great need in our community, and FFMCVV was formed.

Imagine a world free of crime and violence, where children and families are free to walk the street, where parents are sure their children will return home safe, and where residents are free to travel and not held hostage by those who commit crimes against humanity. Getting to that world is the work and the work of our coalition.

Please join us in this fight. We need you and your help.