Industry Support Grows for Mission 500 at Two Key Events
Mission 500 was featured at two important industry events during the final week of November 2013. At the Pelco by Schneider Electric World Vision Kisongo Experience tour 
on November 19, Mission 500 and World Vision, a humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice, presented a donation of fifteen thousand dollars. Both charitable organizations have a long-standing relationship with Pelco by Schneider Electric, which hosted the event at its Pelco facility in Clovis, California.
At the event, Pelco announced that Mission 500, a nonprofit organization operating in partnership with World Vision, has been selected as its new flagship charity. Pelco will work with Mission 500 towards its goal – for every company in the security industry to sponsor at least one child through World Vision’s program.
“We are honored to work with an organization like World Vision and support Mission 500 in hosting the Kisongo Experience,” said Herve Fages, senior vice president, Schneider Electric, Pelco Video Line. “The experience gives our employees and community a meaningful opportunity to see how organizations, like this, are helping families in need.”
The World Vision Kisongo Experience is housed inside a high-tech expandable semi-truck, which transports visitors to Tanzania. More than 30,000 visitors have already been through the free, family-friendly, new World Vision Experience: Kisongo Trek – a multimedia journey into the heart of an African village. The 1,000 square foot interactive exhibit recreates the donor or sponsor’s experience in Africa, demonstrating how their contribution is creating real and lasting change for children and families in need.
During the Clovis event, Pelco employees also worked together to build 1,000 backpack refill kits to be donated and distributed to children in need from Clovis and Fresno Unified School Districts.
On the same night, Mission 500 was the benefiting charity at the the Security Industry Association (SIA) awards dinner at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. A yearly event, the dinner is held in conjunction with ISC East, the premiere exposition in New York City for security professionals. Ray Dean, former Vice President of Key Accounts for Stanley Convergent Security Solutions, received the George R. Lippert Memorial Award for his outstanding contributions to SIA and the security industry.
Mission 500 had the opportunity to present a video during the dinner, after which Fredrik Nilsson, general manager of Axis Communications and chair of the Mission 500 Advisory Board, shared some thoughts with an audience comprising more than 200 industry professionals. “I am proud to be associated with Mission 500 and am committed personally, together with Axis, to building this cause to be the charity of choice in the security industry,” said Nilsson, adding that each day Mission 500 enables more than 700 children to eat, be clothed and benefit from health care and education, creating hope for a better future with the industry’s support.
Larry Comstock, area director for World Vision, related to the audience that the organization is truly transforming the lives of millions of children in almost 100 countries globally and also providing vital disaster relief, such as aid for those impacted by the recent storm in the Philippines.
A portion of the proceeds of SIA Honors Night was given to support Mission 500.
“SIA was pleased to serve as the host for the Honors Night celebration recognizing the individual accomplishments and partnerships between SIA and highly effective organizations such as Mission 500,” said Don Erickson, CEO, Security Industry Association. “It was a special evening that marked the remarkable work done by this outstanding charity, and SIA looks forward to further collaboration with Mission 500 in 2014.”
Photos from the Kisongo Trek hosted at Pelco by Schneider Electric at its Clovis California facility.