The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada and the City of La Cañada Flintridge joined together on June 5 to honor Project Child Save, a La Crescenta organization that has saved the lives of over 400 children who have been kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery and child pornography. La Cañada Mayor Laura Olhasso proclaimed June 5 as Project Child Save Day in La Cañada Flintridge.

Though all Project Child Save personnel are volunteers, such missions are expensive. The Central American operation cost $18,000, which may seem like a lot of money but is well worth the expense when one considers the cost is less than $350 per child’s life.

Founder Ty Ritter and his Project Child Save team members swear this oath: “If necessary, I am prepared to give all their tomorrows for one child’s life today.” But Ritter no longer sends family men into the field.

“How could I explain to a child that we were able to save another kid, but got his or her father killed to do it?” Ritter explained.

Ritter said his organization is now looking at countries that are involved in “sexual tourism.” These are places where American citizens vacation in order to have sex with children – an activity that was recently made a felony in the United States. Project Child Save is developing undercover strategies to expose and charge U.S. citizens who engage in this practice. They hope to raise enough public awareness to pressure the countries involved into shutting it down.

The Kiwanis Club of La Cañada president Jim Philips said that the club will honor the team at a luncheon in their honor at noon at Descanso Gardens.  The public is invited and urged to attend. Tickets available at the door are $15 per person.

To learn details, including the date, contact Al Restivo at al@oaktreeassociates.com.