VALPARAISO | For the past ten years, Northwest Indiana injury attorney Kenneth J. Allen and his wife, Nina, have given thousands of gifts to needy children during the Christmas holiday. Last year, for example, the Allens gave $50 to every child living in area shelters during the holidays, distributed by United Way partner agency shelters in the form of gift certificates which enabled parents or guardians to select suitable gifts for each child. In years past, the Allens have spent tens of thousands of dollars buying, and often wrapping, gifts for needy children.

"This year we decided to do something slightly different," said Nina Allen. "We wanted to make a gift of safety and security to the families with young children in all of Northwest Indiana."

Through a generous gift to the UNITED WAY, the Allens are funding the purchase of Child Identification kits for every Kindergarten-aged child in Lake, LaPorte and Porter Counties public and private schools. Each of the self-contained kits provide the tools and instructions for taking fingerprints, DNA samples, photos, and dental records of the children.

"These I.D. kits will provide vital information to law enforcement if a child should go lost or missing," injury attorney Allen said. "They should also provide a sense of security and safety to parents and serve as a gentle reminder to them to speak with their children about personal safety."

"In the end, it's ultimately about our kids and their safety," said Allen, who was the recipient of the Fifth Annual Child Safety Advocate Award "for outstanding dedication in forwarding the issues of child safety" awarded by the I.U. School of Medicine and the Indiana Safe Kids Coalition.

The Allens also plan a public awareness campaign on the importance of obtaining an I.D. kit beginning early next year.

"If only one lost or missing child is located because of these kits, or a child's abduction is prevented, our efforts will be richly rewarded," said the Allens.

--The Times