Alumni Director Joins Rose Brucia Educational Foundation Board

July 28, 2010

PATCHOGUE, NY JULY 29, 2010 St. Josephs College is pleased to announce that Director of Alumni Relations Matthew Colson 02 has been named to the board of directors for The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation effective July 1.

"Matthew Colson brings an enormous amount of energy and drive to our executive board roster, said Matthew J. Barbis, founder and chairman of The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation. "Matts knowledge and mastery of social media will help propel the foundations mission to the next level. We are extremely grateful to him for his commitment to our cause.

Founded by Matthew J. Barbis after his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, FL in 2004, The Rose Brucia Educational Foundations goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and simple self-defense techniques, the foundation visits elementary-aged children and performs the Stranger Safety Program free of charge. Since its inception, the foundation has presented to more than 39,000 children in more than 32 school districts, 40 private institutions, five chambers of commerce and a U.S. military base.

"As an active parent in my community and an education professional, I am excited to join the executive board of The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation, said Matthew Colson. "It is my intention to make every effort to help fulfill the foundations mission of working to reduce child abductions. It takes a community to educate a child. I'm proud to be a part of an organization that understands that.

Mr. Colson began working in the Office of Alumni Relations at St. Josephs College in 2006. As director, his primary responsibilities include developing, implementing and assessing all alumni relation initiatives as well as coordinating events and collaborative programs for students and more than 30,000 alumni in the tri-state area. Mr. Colson holds an M.S. in Education from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus and a B.A. in Speech Communication from St. Josephs College. In March 2010, he was honored by the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce as one of its Top 30 Under 30 Young Professionals.

For more information about the Rose Brucia Educational Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, please contact Matthew Barbis at 631.234.4667 or visit the website at http://www.rosebrucia.org.