Firm focused on community: corporate alliance strives to reduce juvenile delinquency.

True Steel Security specializes in protecting homes and businesses against break and enter, theft, and vandalism, but as odd as it may seem, members of the company are currently working towards the reduction of the very thing that keeps them in business.

Earlier this fall the Sudbury-based company officially launched a new alliance with Our Children, Our Future, a local organization made of hundreds of volunteers who work at developing and promoting innovative and sustainable community resources that nurture healthy children, healthy families and healthy communities.

The general manager for True Steel Security, John Whitehead, hopes by aligning themselves with the organization, they can reduce juvenile delinquency and ultimately adult crime, something he feels his company has not been successful at in the past.

"True Steel Security is in the business of reducing crime, so we've got our alarm systems, our cameras and our access systems and they do a great job of deflecting crime, but I don't know if it's reducing crime as much as it's having people pick other targets," he says. "So, we ended up saying "If we're here in the community to reduce crime, is there something we can do beyond our core business to actually reduce crime.""

After looking around town to find an organization that they could align themselves with' to try and make a difference, Whitehead says he finally found the perfect fit.

"The fit just seemed to be perfect with Our Children, Our Future," he says. "They're vision is healthy children equals healthy families, which equals healthy communities and that's just what we're after; a safer healthier community."

As part of the alliance, True Steel Security supports the organization somewhat financially and they also promote the organization through

various mediums, including radio spots and printed material.

However, Whitehead points out they will not be working directly with children.

"That's not our expertise," he says. "We'll leave that up to the experts at Our Children, Our Future."

Nonetheless, he hopes their support and promotion of the organization will help to reduce crime in the future.

"It's our belief that if we can help them impact on some of the children, then in 10 or 15 years, some of those who may have become juvenile delinquents maybe won't be, and maybe we'll have made the community a little bit safer,'" he says.

"The goal of the alliance is really to make the Sudbury region a safer community," he adds. "I believe it begins at home with families at a very, young age."

As for critics of the alliance, who point out that True Steel Security is working against themselves since they are going to be working against the very thing that keeps them in business, Whitehead says it is more important to prevent crime. However, he says he is wise enough to admit that they cannot eradicate it.

"I think our efforts are going to make a difference and it's going to reduce crime," he says. "However, I'm not so naive as to think we're going to be able to wipe out crime; but if we can give some children who are being born today a better chance at a brighter future, I'm all for it. Count me in."

www.securityisafamilymatter.com

www.ourchildren-ourfuture.net