Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999

Release #062-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Matthew Higgins (212) 788-2958
Marilyn Mode (212) 374-6700 (NYPD)


MAYOR GIULIANI HONORS THE GUARDIAN ANGELS
FOR TWENTY YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today presented Curtis Sliwa, founder of The Guardian Angels, with a proclamation celebrating the organization's twentieth anniversary. The Guardian Angels initially consisted of 13 volunteers when it was created in 1979 to combat the rising tide of subway crime. Today, The Guardian Angels has active chapters worldwide, including Tokyo and London, and its public safety campaign has extended far beyond its original mandate to include such activities as monitoring the Internet for child pornography.

"The instantly recognizable Guardian Angels have been a constant source of comfort for millions of New Yorkers for two decades," Mayor Giuliani said at a City Hall ceremony. "What began as a valiant effort by thirteen New Yorkers to win back the subways from predators sprouted a movement of community activism that spans the globe. These mostly young men and women who courageously and selflessly dedicate their own time to helping others serve as a role model for young people everywhere."

The Mayor continued, "As the times have changed, so too have the The Guardian Angels. Their innovative programs, such as Cyberangels, reflect their strong commitment to fighting crime wherever it surfaces - including the Internet."

The Guardian Angels has received international recognition and was recently awarded the prestigious President's Award for the Cyberangels program. Founded in 1995, Cyberangels' goal is to monitor the Internet for child predators and child pornography and alert law enforcement.

The Guardian Angels will mark their twentieth anniversary with a gala celebration at the Central Park boathouse on February 27th., where they will present the "The Guardian Angels Role Model for the Next Millennium Award."

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