The National Exchange Club Foundation (NECF) was established in 1979, when the National Exchange Club – an all-volunteer service organization – adopted the Prevention of Child Abuse as its National Project. Today, the National Exchange Club Foundation (NECF) helps local Exchange Clubs develop and maintain community-based child abuse prevention programs, as well as supporting Exchange’s Program of Service projects, which include Youth Programs, Americanism, and Community Service.

The Foundation has been endorsed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and was the winner of a Presidential Award from the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives recognizing exemplary community outreach and volunteer service projects.The NECF is a charter member of The National Child Abuse Coalition and is a Partner in Prevention, along with other national child abuse prevention organizations, through affiliation with the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Program of Service – Americanism, Community Service, Youth Projects

Americanism – Promoting pride in country, respect for the flag and appreciation of our freedoms are the primary purposes of Exchange's Americanism programs. The tumultuous struggles of world powers have done little to guarantee a peaceful future for the majority of the world’s people. However, there’s one country in modern times that people flock to for safety, freedom and opportunity — the United States of America. It is hard for Americans to imagine the horrors of modern struggles over religious and ethnic differences, the very differences we embrace.

Community Service – The history of Exchange’s community service projects is quite impressive. Since the first group of Exchangites convened in 1911 in Detroit, Mich., Exchange has been dedicated to serving its communities through various projects. Throughout the years, Exchange Clubs have been responsible for community improvements of all types such as: cleaning up highways; sponsoring cultural programs, air, art and industrial shows, state and county fairs, festivals, rodeos and athletic events. These clubs have also provided millions of dollars for scholarships, gifts, equipment, sponsorships, educational endeavors and other causes.

Youth Projects – America’s young people are its most precious resource. This is why, for many years, Exchange has sponsored an impressive selection of activities designed to benefit and encourage our nation’s youth. Many of these richly rewarding programs are among the most popular and well-supported of all Exchange Club endeavors. Two national scholarships are competitively awarded each year:

• The ACE (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) Award to a student who has overcome adversity to graduate high school and move their lives in a positive direction. These students are often overlooked for their accomplishments, and can serve as a powerful example to all students that hard work and perseverance pay off.

• The Youth of the Year, for high achieving student who has demonstrated leadership, high scholastic achievement, and community service. This program rewards outstanding youth people, and also provides an incentive for other youngsters to strive for equally high levels of achievement.

Our National Project – Child Abuse Prevention

Parent Aide – While The National Exchange Club Foundation has a variety of child abuse awareness programs, our most successful method of countering child abuse is by working directly with parents through our flagship program, the Parent Aide home visitation model. The NECF coordinates a nationwide network of over 100 community-based Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers that utilize the Parent Aide program and provide support to families at-risk for abuse. To date, our Exchange Club Centers have helped more than 619,763 families break the cycle of violence, thus creating safe and stable homes for 1.5 million children. The NECF provides these sites with training, accreditation, technical support, guidance in agency development and management, and other supportive services.

Public Awareness Campaigns – The NECF believes it is important to educate the public about the serious implications of child abuse and preventable causes of harm to children. Brochures, public service announcements and other materials help Exchange Clubs, Child Abuse Prevention Centers, and the general public become better informed about child abuse and how it can be prevented. The Shaken Baby Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome campaigns focus on prevention. Believe in the Blue, Time-Out Teddy, KidCode, and other programs provide effective tools to parents for challenging situations that can create risk for abuse.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month – The NECF endorses the month of April each year as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The NECF produces an annual child abuse prevention month kit which includes public awareness project ideas, public relations information, promotional materials and community involvement suggestions.