First Lady Lori Otter, iKeepSafe and Qwest Address Family Online Safety

First Lady receives the 2008 Internet Keep Safe Award

(BOISE) – The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (www.iKeepSafe.org), a national non-profit organization committed to helping kids have a safe and healthy experience with connected technology, and Qwest, recognized First Lady Lori Otter today with the Internet Keep Safe Award for her efforts to keep Idaho children safe online. Jacalyn Leavitt, iKeepSafe founder and former first lady of Utah, presented the award to Mrs. Otter at a Qwest children’s program attended by children at the Boise Public Library.

“I’m truly honored to be part of the iKeepSafe program,” Mrs. Otter said. “As an educator, I understand that while the Internet is a wonderful learning tool it also poses some serious risks to our impressionable and vulnerable young people. As Idaho’s First Lady, I have a rare opportunity to help families reduce that risk and keep our children out of harm’s way.”

Mrs. Otter has spoken to numerous schoolchildren discussing the many benefits of technology while also encouraging them to understand how to protect themselves against potential risks.

“The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is proud to honor the efforts of Mrs. Otter who is dedicated to encouraging the youth of Idaho to have safer, healthier habits on the Internet and addressing issues such as cyberbullying, cyberethics and finding balance in their digital lives,” said Jacalyn Leavitt, founder of the Coalition. “We are also grateful for committed partners like Qwest who give us additional opportunities and resources to deliver the message of safe and healthy Internet use to children and communities.”

The Faux Paw Internet safety program was created specifically for elementary school children and follows the adventures of Faux Paw the Techno Cat, a curious, Web-surfing cat who teaches kids how to keep safe online. A national award was given for the animated DVD that is included with every book. The Faux Paw Internet safety educational curriculum is available free and was created in partnership with Penn State’s Dept. of Education and a global team of educators, sponsored by Symantec.

Parents can visit the iKeepSafe Web site (iKeepSafe.org) for additional information on how to help their families be safe while exploring the digital world.

About the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (www.iKeepSafe.org)
The Internet Keep Safe Coalition is a broad partnership of governors and/or first spouses, attorneys general, public health and educational professionals, law enforcement and industry leaders working together for the health and safety of youth online. The coalition partners include the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Reading is Fundamental, and Communities in Schools. (For a complete list of partners, visit iKeepSafe.org.) The coalition provides parent tutorials and age-appropriate educational resources, including the Faux Paw the Techno Cat ®Internet safety series of books and animated films for children. iKeepSafe uses these unique partnerships to disseminate the safety resources to families worldwide, including pilot programs launching this year in China, India and Australia.

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