A Light for Sophie
A Safer Future for Every Child

Sophie’s Story

I am a 1st grade teacher at Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with a large family; I have 6 older brothers and lots of nieces and nephews. Almost 9 years ago, my 15 year old niece Sophie went out for a walk and never came back. She is a loved daughter, granddaughter, niece and friend.

After Sophie disappeared, we learned she had been speaking to strangers online, and it is feared she became a victim of human trafficking. The night she went missing, Sophie left $300 in her room.

My brother Patrick, Sophie’s father, put that money in a box and gave it to me. He said, “If you ever start a nonprofit, use this money to start it.”

That was the moment I created Sophie’s Light Foundation.

Sophie’s Light Foundation is developing an online safety curriculum for schools because digital safety is just as important as math and science.

Join us in making online safety part of every child’s education.

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1

Years Ago
Founded

The Problem

1 in 5 children under 18 has been sexually solicited online, and the number is growing.

Kids are growing up online and being groomed by strangers. Unmonitored gaming platforms with chat rooms are playgrounds for predators. Children can be exposed to sexual content and aggressive behavior long before they are ready to hear it. They are being targeted without even realizing it.

How We Help

Helping children recognize risks and respond with confidence.

Education

In-school curriculum

Awareness

Learning the signs of grooming

Support

Encouraging open conversations

Our Mission

Online safety in schools should not be optional.

Other organizations offer access to optional online safety programs. We want to make an impact where kids are already learning; in their schools. By embedding online safety curriculum into their school day, every child will learn how to safely navigate online. We will partner with the schools first, train kids to spot the signs, and bring the parents in to help.

We will educate and empower kids so they can protect themselves and prevent other families from experiencing the same loss.

Our Vision

We will bring online safety into the classroom, making it as important as reading and math.

Our vision is to help 100,000 kids be safe navigating online by 2029. They will be able to recognize grooming language, confidently speak up to a parent or teacher for support, and feel safe sharing their digital world with trusted adults.