Project ChildSafe’s Countdown to 2026

 

As we approach the New Year, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the milestones that made 2025 a defining year for Project ChildSafe. Each achievement marks tremendous progress in our mission to promote firearm safety and responsible gun ownership across diverse communities.

Counting down to 2026, here’s a recap of this year’s highlights:

Ten Thousand Votes for Secure Storage

Former NFL player Clay Matthews scored big for secure storage with this year’s Colt Safety Impact Award. Thanks to his initial donation of $5,000 and 10,000 votes from supporters like you, we raised $15,000 to provide free firearm safety kits to communities across America. We’re grateful to Clay for bringing his commitment to defense off the football field and into protecting what matters most.

 

Nine Team Members Making It Happen

At Project ChildSafe, we usually stay behind the scenes so safety can take the spotlight—but today, we’re pulling back the curtain. In 2025, we welcomed two new teammates and said goodbye to another. So, it’s time to take a moment to thank everyone who made this year possible. To Justin, Taly, Katie, Kathya, Kellen, Laura, Lucy, Dan, and Bill: the impact you’ve made drives us forward every day.

 

Eight (x2) New Blog Posts

In 2025, Project ChildSafe shared 16 blog posts from partners across the industry. Whether featuring an expert in mental health or an Olympian in shooting sports, these blogs sparked conversation on social media and amplified key initiatives like National Shooting Sports Month, Gun Storage Check Week, Suicide Prevention, Hunt S.A.F.E., and Women’s History Month.

 

Seven Days, Seven Influencers

To expand our Gun Storage Check Week® (GSCW) campaign, we brought you 7 days and 7 influencers. This first-of-its-kind activation reached more than 1.3 million people, accumulated nearly 90,000 video views, and resulted in more than 59 hours of educational content watched. Thank you to the influencers who helped spread the word about secure firearm storage this year. Because of your efforts, our messaging brought new audiences like women, families, and underrepresented populations into a community of safe and responsible gun ownership.

 

Six Industry Partnerships

We are grateful to firearm industry partners like Gun Freedom Radio, Ironworker Magazine, Whitney Strong, and 4-H Shooting Sports, who have made space for secure storage resources on their websites, in their media, and across their platforms. To stay connected with our Louisville focus community, our partners at Whitney Strong have shared Project ChildSafe PSAs across Kentucky. Additionally, the Gun Freedom Radio Podcast has kept us in the conversation nationwide with an episode featuring our very own Bill Romanelli.

Five New Spanish Resources

Este año, la seguridad fue nuestra máxima prioridad. That’s why we created five new Spanish-language resources- including our popular Peer-to-Peer Guide for Suicide Prevention. Connecting communities and empowering conversations about firearm safety is at the heart of what we do; we’re proud to have shared that with muchas personas nuevas this year.

Four Seasonal Campaigns

We brought back four fan-favorite seasonal campaigns this year: Friends & Family, Gun Storage Check Week®, Hunt S.A.F.E. with Kristy Titus, and Suicide Prevention Month — and every single one broke records. Thanks to your support, we reached more gun owners than ever before. Every time you read, share, and engage, you help spread life-saving resources and reminders to store firearms securely. Together, we’re making safety a habit.

 

Three Gun Shows

Wherever firearms are sold, safety resources should be close at hand. That’s why we launched a new presence at gun shows, distributing hundreds of safety materials at shows in Florida, California, and Connecticut this year. Along the way, we connected with more than 900 gun owners, local law enforcement, and firearm trainers—partners who are now using these materials in classes to keep the message of responsible ownership moving forward.

Two Localized Digital Initiatives

Recognizing the importance of reaching a diverse audience of gun owners, Project ChildSafe launched localized digital initiatives in two communities: Jackson, Mississippi and Miami, Florida. Here are some highlights:

Miami, FL: Safety knows no language barrier, so we launched a Spanish-language campaign in Miami during Suicide Prevention Month. Our vital “time and distance” message reached nearly 30% of Miami’s population, connecting with 137,500 Spanish-speaking parents and adults.

Jackson, MS: As glovebox break-ins are on the rise, we focused on secure storage in vehicles during the summer months. Our campaign reached 85% of African American and Latino communities, nearly 23% of the city’s population, delivering practical tips to keep firearms safe from theft and out of the wrong hands.

One Focus Community Launch

Just last month, Project ChildSafe took a major leap by establishing a focus community in Salt Lake, Utah. This initiative brought together 14 local stakeholders, six law enforcement departments, and 11 lock distribution sites. The launch united one of our largest coalitions ever, amplified by media coverage from every major local affiliate—including Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Telemundo.

 

Here’s to an Even Safer 2026!

Each of these accomplishments demonstrates our commitment to fostering safe, responsible firearm ownership nationwide. As we approach the New Year, we look forward to building on this momentum—working with our partners, stakeholders, and communities to make 2026 even safer for everyone. Happy New Year from Project ChildSafe!