The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation was founded by Matthew J. Barbis when his 11 year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, Florida in 2004. The Foundation's goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in America by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and simple self-defense techniques, the foundation visits elementary schools on a regular basis and performs the Stranger Safety Program, free of charge.