Safe Surfin' Foundation
| Formation | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sheriff Mike Brown (Ret.) |
| Type | 501(c)(3) nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Floyd, Virginia, United States |
Region served | United States |
President & Executive Director | Eddie Worth |
| Website | safesurfin.org |
The Safe Surfin’ Foundation (SSF) is a United States–based Template:IRS status nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting online safety and protecting children from cybercrime, exploitation, and human trafficking. Founded in 1998 by Sheriff Mike Brown (Ret.), the foundation serves as the educational arm of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (SOVA ICAC) Task Force. SSF partners with schools, law enforcement, and civic organizations to deliver free educational resources and safety programs nationwide.[1]
History
Safe Surfin’ began in 1998 under Sheriff Mike Brown (Ret.) as part of Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, who was the inaugural commander of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (SOVA-ICAC) Task Force, one of the first Congressionally-formed ICAC operations in the U.S. The initiative gained national attention when profiled on CBS 48 Hours. In 2000, the Safe Surfin’ Foundation was formally incorporated as a nonprofit, expanding its mission to focus not only on law enforcement but also on proactive education and prevention.[1]
Mission
The foundation’s mission is to implement and continually support internet safety education nationwide for K–12 students and their parents, offering training, technical assistance, and materials free of charge. Its goals include equipping families, teachers, and law enforcement with tools to combat cyberbullying, online grooming, privacy risks, and other digital threats.[1]
Programs and Initiatives
- Movie Games (2025 launch): An educational platform developed with Skyll, offering personalized lessons on cyberbullying, privacy, grooming awareness, and digital citizenship. The program will debut in West Virginia schools, reaching over 245,000 students.[1]
- Cop-in-a-Box Program: Provides hardware, software, and training to law enforcement agencies to enhance cybercrime investigations.[1]
- Cyber-Swat Program: An educational, peer-to-peer program that teaches youth internet safety, digital citizenship, and responsible technology use through interactive lessons, peer leadership, and collaboration with schools and families..[1]
- Law Enforcement Agency Assistance Program (LEAAP): Supports officers with grants and equipment to expand online safety enforcement.[1]
- Cyberbullying Training: Interactive resources developed with the National White Collar Crime Center to support parents, educators, and students.[1]
Board of Directors
As of 2023, the foundation’s board includes:[1]
- Sheriff Mike Brown (Ret.) – Founder & Chairman of the Board
- Judge Marcus Long (Ret.) – Board Member
- Graeme Page – CEO and co-founder of Skyll
- Dr. Janet Brown (Ret.) – Professor of Psychology, Liberty University
- Terry Treadwell – Nonprofit and business leader
- Debbie Repass – Paralegal and former president of the American Alliance of Paralegals
- Eric Winkler – Entrepreneur and real estate developer
Executive Leadership and Staff
- Eddie Worth – President & Executive Director
- Kevin Donovan – Vice President
- Lizena “Liz” Thompson – Administrative Assistant, Secretary/Treasurer
- Elizabeth “Beth” Worth, APR/CDMP – Grants & Public Relations Specialist
- David Coffey – Regional Manager, West District
- Jim Hale – Regional Manager, East District[1]
Advisory Board
- Coach Frank Beamer
- Amanda Stewart
- Rick Jones
- Elizabeth “Beth” Worth
- Jeff Lybarger
- Vicki Johnson
- Tony Schiena[1]
Recognition and Partnerships
The foundation has partnered with Moose International, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Child Rescue Coalition, National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), the Fraternal Order of Police, the U.S. Department of Justice, and numerous other agencies nationwide. It has been recognized for its innovative programs, including the Cop-in-a-Box initiative and cyberbullying prevention training.[1]
See also
- Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)
- Internet safety education
- Online predator awareness
- Cyberbullying
References
External links
References
This article "Safe Surfin' Foundation" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Safe Surfin' Foundation. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
