Everyone’s familiar with AMBER Alert — the notifications sent out when a child is missing or kidnapped and in danger. But what many don’t know is that the system was created because of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted while riding her bike in Arlington, Texas, in January 1996. Her body was found four days later. The tragedy rocked the North Texas community and led one citizen to ask what she could do to help, and the AMBER Alert system was born. As of Dec. 31, 2023, the AMBER Alert system has saved 1,200 children.
