Unsung Hero Awards 2006

On April 27, 2006, the Victim Support Network (VSN), of which VCA is a part, held a luncheon and awards ceremony for the VSN agencies and their “Unsung Heroes.” This event is to acknowledge volunteers who do outstanding work providing assistance and support to victims of crime in Santa Clara County at the eleven participating organizations, but are not formally recognized—this ceremony gives those wonderful people a chance to be in the spotlight for all they do! This year, the Vanished Children’s Alliance nominated Officer Brian Spears.
Officer Brian Spears and VCA’s Executive Director and Founder, Georgia K. Hilgeman-Hammond
Officer Brian Spears, a veteran of the San Jose Police Department, is our Unsung Hero for many reasons. Brian has been a volunteer with VCA for over a year now and has remained intensely dedicated to the issues of missing and abducted children and child safety. In preparation for National Missing Children's Day, May 25, 2005, Brian solicited donations of t-shirts and t-shirt transfer paper in order to create approximately 500 t-shirts featuring photos of missing and abducted children registered with VCA. These t-shirts were distributed to over 20 schools throughout San Mateo County in order to promote awareness of this very important day. Brian also coordinated a joint press conference between VCA and SJPD for National Missing Children's Day, which brought a great deal of media attention to missing and abducted children across the nation. He is already working diligently with VCA to coordinate the 2006 National Missing Children's Day activities.

Officer Brian Spears’ son holding up a t-shirt made by Officer Spears.)

Brian brings to the table many innovative ideas on how to raise child abduction awareness, how to reach out to the community, and how to keep children safe and is an integral part of numerous VCA projects and events. He remains a valued member of VCA's volunteer team and we here at VCA sincerely appreciate all the help he has given and commitment he has shown us. It was our distinct honor to nominate Officer Brian Spears for the Unsung Hero Award in 2006.