Formed in 1995, a mere year and a-half after the World Wide Web was launched, Cyberangels has already left its permanent mark on the Internet. Someone very special formed Cyberangels. Someone who has devoted his entire life to serving others, selflessly - Curtis Sliwa.

It all started with a phone call to Curtis Sliwa, founder and president of Guardian Angels (the all-volunteer group that patrols subways and dangerous inner-city streets, wearing their famed red berets). Curtis had become a radio talk show host for WABC in New York. A woman called in, asking him what he intended to do about cyberspace. Curtis took up the challenge, and appointed a few Guardian Angels to help create the first cyber-neighbourhood watch, Cyberangels.

It began as the first cyberstalking help program, in the depths of IRC, helping women who were being harassed online, when men far out-numbered woman online, especially in IRC. It later expanded to child pornography patrols, finding and reporting child pornography online. It ran classes online for its volunteers and anyone who wanted to learn about IRC, and online safety issues. Under the director of Colin Hatcher (Gabriel), many people contributed to the articles and class materials, and helped build a wonderful resource for people who needed help online.

As the Internet began to change, and become more mainstream, Cyberangels needed to change too. In 1988 Parry Aftab, an Internet lawyer, agreed to become the Executive Director of the program and to help refocus Cyberangels. With the changing Internet demographics, it was decided that the focus needed to be more Web-directed and less dedicated to IRC. Parents needed help in supervising their children's Websurfing. Law enforcement needed support and knowledgeable assistance in tracking cyber-predators and understanding online crimes. There needed to be as large a contingent heralding the good things about the Internet, as warning about the risks. Good site lists were becoming the wave of the future. We also needed to become aware of the risks of privacy intrusions online, and ways to protect our privacy. Parry began a number of programs designed to address these issues. In May 2002, Parry resigned to follow up on other online projects she was involved in. At that time Curtis asked Katya Gifford and Anthony de Araujo work as Program Directors and to help Cyberangels continue growing and reaching out online.

Where Have We Been?

In the seven years since it was formed, Cyberangels has undergone many changes. Its leadership was transitioned, its volunteers have expanded and in some cases turned over. Its vision has changed and widened to meet the needs of Internet users. When it began, we had fewer than 20 million Internet users in the US, now we have more than 100 million. As their needs change, so do we. As the rest of the world has caught up in Internet use, we have evolved to meet their special needs, adding international divisions and multi-language capability. We work as closely with Interpol as we do the FBI. And our reputation is truly worldwide, as is our membership.

Our Track Record

Our Net Patrol program was honored by the Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, by a proclamation naming August 15th 1998 Guardian Angel Day in New York City. The Mayor listed our AngelGuard efforts and successes and commended our volunteers.

Cyberangels was recently recognized by the Points of Light Foundation, as one of the select recipients of the 1998 President's Service Award, which was presented at the White House in October, 1999.

Cyberangels has been featured in leading magazines, such as Reader's Digest (April 2000), Biography, TV Guide, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan, YM Magazine, Playboy, Family Circle, French Elle, The Sunday Times Magazine (London), Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping and Family PC Magazine. We have also been included in national network television and news programs, such as 20/20, CNN, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Today Weekend, Extra! and ABC's television specials.