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Press & Media Resources — The Bethany Markowski Foundation

Welcome, media professionals. Below you will find press releases, background documents, photos, and contact information for The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. For interview requests or additional assets, contact Jordan Farrell at media@findbethany.org or ‪(615) 784-3287‬.

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Jordan Farrell, Communications Lead & Secretary
• media@findbethany.org
• (615) 784-3287‬

We respond to media inquiries within 24 hours.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT
Jordan Farrell
Communications Lead & Secretary
The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc.
media@findbethany.org
findbethany.org‪
(615) 784-3287‬		EVENT DATE
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6 PM
VENUE
Capitol Theatre
Lebanon, Tennessee

25 YEARS LATER: A MOTHER’S SEARCH CONTINUES

The Bethany Markowski Foundation Marks Its Inaugural Tennessee Missing Children’s Day on March 4, 2026 — the 25th Anniversary of Bethany’s Disappearance — with a Landmark Community Event at Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, TN

LEBANON, TN, February 2026 — Twenty-five years ago, an 11-year-old girl named Bethany Markowski disappeared from Jackson, Tennessee. Her case was never solved. Her mother, Jonnie Carter, never stopped searching — and she never stopped fighting to ensure that no other Tennessee family would face that search alone.

On March 4, 2026 — the 25th anniversary of Bethany’s disappearance and Tennessee’s officially recognized Missing Children’s Day — Carter and the foundation she built in her daughter’s memory will host the inaugural Tennessee Missing Children’s Day Community Event at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, Tennessee. The event is free and open to the public.

“This night is about Bethany,” said Jonnie Carter, Chair of the Foundation and Bethany’s mother. “She is still missing. In my speech, I will be telling Bethany’s story and making sure her name is at the forefront of everything we do. From this moment forward, all of our nonprofit efforts will be carried out in Bethany’s name. She deserves to be remembered — not just tonight, but always. Don’t forget her.”

ABOUT THE EVENT

Tennessee Missing Children’s Day, established by Tennessee Code § 15-2-127 and observed annually on March 4, is a state-recognized day of remembrance and advocacy for the hundreds of children who go missing in Tennessee each year. The Bethany Markowski Foundation is hosting this year’s flagship community observance as its inaugural public event since achieving 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2026.

The March 4th event at Capitol Theatre will include:

  • Speaker program featuring family advocates and law enforcement
  • FREE children’s fingerprinting services provided to Wilson County families — a resource Bethany’s family never had
  • Child safety education information for families and community members
  • Silent auction benefiting the foundation’s family support programs
  • Event-day merchandise available to support the foundation and its mission
  • A small art station and kids’ corner where children can participate in activities after being fingerprinted
  • Opportunity to honor all of Tennessee’s missing children by name
  • A candlelight vigil at the conclusion of the evening honoring Bethany and all missing children

The event is free and open to the public. Donations, silent auction participation, and merchandise purchases benefit the foundation’s mission of providing free support services to Tennessee families of missing children.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. (EIN: 41-2321010) is a Wilson County, Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation incorporated in 2026 and dedicated to supporting families of missing children and promoting child safety education across Tennessee. The foundation was established in honor of Bethany Markowski, who disappeared at age 11 from Jackson, Tennessee on March 4, 2001.

The foundation will provide services at no cost to families in crisis, including family support and advocacy, community search coordination, children’s safety education, and ongoing case awareness efforts. The foundation’s work is rooted in the belief that the coordinated support system that did not exist for Bethany’s family 25 years ago must exist for every Tennessee family facing a missing child today.

TENNESSEE MISSING CHILDREN: BY THE NUMBERS

The foundation’s work addresses an urgent statewide crisis:

  • Approximately 500–600 children are reported missing in Tennessee every month
  • Tennessee has ranked among the top 10 states nationally for missing persons, including 7th in 2025
  • 932 active missing children cases remain open in Tennessee
  • The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 359,094 reports of missing children nationally in 2022
  • Free fingerprinting events like this one provide families a critical tool that Bethany’s family never had

ABOUT BETHANY MARKOWSKI

Bethany Markowski was an 11-year-old girl from Jackson, Tennessee who disappeared on March 4, 2001 — 25 years ago. Her case remains open and under active investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the TBI tip line at 1-800-TBI-FIND or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

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High-resolution photos, spokesperson headshots, and additional media assets are available at findbethany.org/press or by emailing media@findbethany.org.

If you are personally affected by a missing child emergency, contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Download the Press Release

Press_Release_TN_Missing_Childrens_Day_2026Download

Download Complete Press Kit

Click Here to View & Download Our Press Kit
via Google Drive

Individual Document Downloads

Bethany Markowski Case Background

Bethany_Markowski_Case_BackgroundDownload

Organizational Fact Sheet

Organizational_Fact_SheetDownload

Event Program

Event_Details_ProgramDownload

Spokesperson Bios

Spokesperson_BiosDownload

B-Roll / Media Advisory for TV Crews

Broll_Media_AdvisoryDownload

Social Media Toolkit

Social_Media_ToolkitDownload

Foundation Logo Files

Logo_BMF_for_White_BackgroundDownload
Logo_BMF_for_Black_BackgroundDownload
Logo_TMCD_for_White_BackgroundDownload
Logo_TMCD_for_Black_BackgroundDownload

Event Flyer

TMCD 2026 – Event Print FlyerDownload

Silent Auction Flyer

TMCD 2026 – Silent Auction FlyerDownload

Sponsorship Packet

Sponsorship Packet – The Bethany Markowski FoundationDownload
Jonnie standing with family and friends at a TN Missing Children’s Day event from years ago.
Jonnie Carter standing at the podium, speaking at the 2019 TN Missing Children’s Day held in Jackson, TN
Media interview at TN Missing Children’s Day event
Bethany’s relatives Kristain and Daniel Markowski holding a photo of Bethany
A TN Missing Children’s Day candlelight vigil outdoors
Bethany’s brother and sister Jenny Thompson and Daniel Markowski speaking to podcaster Brandon Barnett at a TN Missing Children’s Day event
A TN Missing Children’s Day candlelight vigil outdoors
Memory table set up to display Bethany photographs and mementos
Educational brochures for guests, on a table with the resolution for TN Missing Children’s Day
Fundraiser silent auction tables set up at the event
TN Missing Children’s Day media backdrop with logo
Dianne Wyatt, long-time family friend and volunteer helping set up for the event in 2025
Lori Jackson, Bethany’s aunt, taping missing children flyers to the windows in 2025
Tommie Estraca, Bethany’s aunt, displaying brochures
Bethany’s cousin and uncle standing next to an event table at a vigil hosted in a private residence
A table with merchandise and decor at a Bethany Markowski vigil
A table with merchandise and decor at a Bethany Markowski vigil
A cake to commemorate TMCD, March 4th
Close up image of missing children flyers at an event
Lori Jackson, Bethany’s aunt, prepping for the event
Jonnie Carter, Bethany’s mother and Dianne Wyatt prepping for the event
A popcorn and cotton candy station at the event in 2025
Green cutlery, cups and plates ready for guests
A wall of Tennessee’s Missing Children posters
A close up shot of the framed resolution that was passed into the TN Missing Children’s Day bill
Brochures at the event
Brochures at the event
A merchandise table set up in 2025
A merchandise table set up in 2025
A merchandise table set up in 2025
Bethany’s aunt, Lori Jackson, and her granddaughter, Bethany’s cousin, wearing TMCD and Bethany merchandise
Bethany’s aunt, Lori Jackson, and her granddaughter, Bethany’s cousin, wearing TMCD and Bethany merchandise
Bethany’s aunt, Lori Jackson, and her granddaughter, Bethany’s cousin, wearing TMCD and Bethany merchandise
A Bethany Markowski Foundation logo hoodie
A “I Love My Family” collection t-shirt, featuring Bethany’s original artwork
A classic #TeamBethany t-shirt
A classic raglan with the Bethany Markowski Foundation logo
A classic t-shirt with the Bethany Markowski Foundation logo
Jonnie Carter, preparing for her speech at an event in 2019
Bookmarkswith missing children, tied to balloons, which would be released into the air at past events
A balloon release ceremony being led with music at a past event
Balloons with bookmarks of missing children attached
Balloons with bookmarks of missing children attached
A photo of a TN Missing Children’s day set up from the past
Bethany and her mother Jonnie on Bethany’s 11th birthday, just over a month before her disappearance
Jonnie Carter and Bethany Markowski
Bethany Markowski
Bethany Markowski
Bethany Markowski and Jonnie Carter
Bethany Markowski and her friend Meagan Wyatt, taken a few months before her disappearance
Bethany Markowski, the most recent photo of her
Jonnie Carter, Bethany’s mother; Larry Markowski, Bethany’s father; and Bethany Markowski
Bethany Markowski
Bethany Markowski and her father Larry Markowski
Bethany Markowski
Bethany Markowski
Bethany Markowski at her last birthday celebration on February 1, 2001
Bethany Markowski

Press Coverage: The Bethany Markowski Foundation

This is a comprehensive inventory of all findable press coverage across four subjects: Bethany Markowski’s disappearance, Jonnie Carter’s advocacy, Tennessee Missing Children’s Day, and The Bethany Markowski Foundation. Every locatable article, broadcast segment, podcast, blog post, and media listing is included below, organized by subject and sorted with the most recent coverage first. Items that appear across multiple subjects are listed under their most relevant category, with cross-references noted.

The Disappearance of Bethany Markowski

Bethany Markowski vanished on March 4, 2001, at age 11, reportedly from Old Hickory Mall in Jackson, Tennessee. Her case remains open and classified as “Endangered Missing.” Coverage spans from 2001 to 2025 across local, regional, national, and digital media.

Television and national broadcast coverage

1. “Still Missing: What happened to Bethany Markowski?”

2. “Case that inspired TN Missing Children’s Day goes 23 years unsolved”

3. “Tenn. Girl Vanished in 2001 — and Mom Hopes to Reunite with Daughter ‘Gone Longer than I Had Her'”

4. “Mother seeks answers after daughter missing for 20 years”

5. “Mom responsible for Tennessee Missing Children’s Day still looking for her daughter 20 years later”

6. “In Pursuit with John Walsh” — Bethany Markowski segment

7. “Bethany Markowski still missing 18 years after disappearing in Tennessee”

8. “What happened to Bethany Markowski? Girl remains missing after reported mall disappearance”

9. “What happened to Bethany Markowski? Girl goes missing from Tennessee mall” (Video)

  • Outlet: True Crime Daily (broadcast video segment)
  • Date: May 18, 2018
  • URL: https://truecrimedaily.com/videos/0-5qww2d58/
  • Description: Multi-part Crime Watch Daily broadcast segment covering the case with on-camera interviews.

10. “Missing girl’s father speaks out for first time in 17 years”

11. “Mother remains hopeful for missing daughter 17 years after disappearance”

12. “Missing 11-year-old inspires new bill to create day of awareness in Tennessee”

13. Montel Williams Show — Jonnie Carter appearance

  • Outlet: The Montel Williams Show (syndicated TV)
  • Date: Approximately 2002
  • URL: Not available online
  • Description: Jonnie Carter appeared as a guest to discuss Bethany’s disappearance, including details about a woman who attempted to enroll a girl resembling Bethany in a Catholic school.

14. WBBJ-TV original 2001 report

  • Outlet: WBBJ-TV 7 Eyewitness News (Jackson, TN)
  • Date: March 2001
  • URL: Not available online (referenced in later WBBJ reports)
  • Description: Original interview with Larry Markowski shortly after the disappearance in which he said, “We took a nap in the van. She wanted to go up in the mall.”

Newspaper and print coverage

15. “Investigating officer remembers Bethany Markowski case 24 years later”

16. “Some missing children cases get more attention online than others. Here are 5 to know about”

17. “Mom of missing girl stresses importance of fingerprinting in Lexington High School visit”

18. “Bethany Markowski missing child case to be profiled nationally on ‘In Pursuit with John Walsh'”

19. “Mother of girl missing from Jackson since 2001 returning TN Missing Children’s Day vigil”

  • Outlet: The Jackson Sun
  • Date: February 28, 2019
  • URL: Not directly retrievable; referenced by The Suitcase Detective (Shields, B., 2019)
  • Description: Previews the annual Tennessee Missing Children’s Day vigil organized by Jonnie Carter.
  • ⚠️ LIKELY PAYWALLED — USA Today Network.

20. “Victims’ families deserve respect in missing person cases” (Opinion)

21. “Searching for Bethany” (Two-part exclusive)

22. “Podcaster takes on missing girl cold case: Bethany Markowski”

23. “Vanished: Learn more about Tennessee’s missing children”

  • Outlet: The Tennessean (Nashville, TN)
  • Date: March 29, 2017
  • URL: Not directly retrievable; referenced by The Suitcase Detective (Alund, N., 2017)
  • Description: Overview of Tennessee’s missing children cases, including Bethany Markowski.
  • ⚠️ LIKELY PAYWALLED — USA Today Network.

24. The Jackson Sun — Original 2001 reporting

  • Outlet: The Jackson Sun
  • Date: March 6, 7, and 11, 2001 (at minimum)
  • URL: Not available online; newspaper clippings preserved on findbethany.org
  • Description: Original reporting on Bethany’s disappearance, including Jonnie Carter’s March 7, 2001, quote about teaching Bethany to make a scene if someone tried to kidnap her.

Online news, blogs, and true crime coverage

25. “Missing in Plain Sight: The disappearance from Tennessee of Bethany Leanne Markowski and a Little Rock connection?”

26. “The Disappearance of Bethany Markowski”

27. “Gone in Thin Air: The Shocking Story of Bethany Markowski’s Disappearance”

28. “In 2001, a man said he lost his 11-year-old daughter at the mall. CCTV footage proved she was never even there.”

29. “11-Year-Old Vanished More Than 20 Years Ago, But Her Devoted Mom Won’t Ever Stop Searching for Her”

30. “Dear Bethany… 20 Years Missing”

31. “The Unsolved Disappearance of Bethany Markowski”

32. “Missing in Tennessee: Where Is Bethany Markowski?”

33. “Did She Ever Make It to the Mall? The Chilling Disappearance of Bethany Markowski”

34. “Missing Person: Bethany Leanne Markowski”

35. “Missing: Bethany Markowski”

36. “Madison County: Bethany Markowski”

37. “The Disappearance of Bethany Markowski”

38. “Bethany Markowski — March 4, 2001 — Jackson, Tennessee, USA”

Podcasts

39. “Missing in Hush Town” — Season 2: Bethany Markowski (multiple episodes)

40. “Searching for Ghosts: Where Is Bethany Markowski?” — Season 2 (multiple episodes)

41. “Bethany Markowski” — Missing Persons Podcast

42. “MISSING: Bethany Markowski” — Murder At Land Between The Lakes Podcast

43. “The NAMUS-45: Bethany Markowski” — True Crime Bullsh Podcast**

44. “The Unsolved Disappearance of Bethany Markowski” — Where Are They? Podcast

45. “The Disappearance of Bethany Markowski: Did She Ever Make It to the Mall?” — Serial Napper Podcast

46. “S. 7 Episode 23: The Disappearance of Bethany Markowski” — Kat and Ashley Podcast

47. Preview: “Missing in Hush Town Season 2 — Bethany Markowski: The Prologue”

Official databases and missing persons listings

48. FBI Wanted/Kidnap Page — Bethany Leanne Markowski

49. NCMEC Missing Poster — Bethany Leanne Markowski

50. TBI Missing Child Flyer — Bethany Leanne Markowski

51. The Charley Project — Bethany Leanne Markowski

52. Polly Klaas Foundation — Bethany Leanne Markowski

53. CUE Center for Missing Persons — Bethany Markowski

54. Solve the Case — Bethany Leanne Markowski

55. International Missing Persons Wiki — Bethany Markowski

Social media and community

56. Reddit — r/FindBethanyMarkowski

57. Reddit — r/UnresolvedMysteries thread

58. TikTok — Multiple accounts covering the case

Jonnie Carter — Advocacy and Interviews

Jonnie Carter is Bethany’s mother and has been a tireless advocate for missing children since 2001. She founded The Bethany Markowski Foundation, helped pass Tennessee Missing Children’s Day legislation, and regularly speaks at events and in media. Many of the items below also appear in Section 1 but are listed here because they prominently feature Jonnie Carter’s advocacy, interviews, or personal perspective.

Key coverage where Jonnie Carter is the primary subject or sole interviewee:

1. “‘Remember their names’ | Tennessee Missing Children’s Day”

2. “Dear Bethany… 20 Years Missing”

3. “Mom responsible for Tennessee Missing Children’s Day still looking for her daughter 20 years later”

4. “Tenn. Girl Vanished in 2001 — and Mom Hopes to Reunite with Daughter ‘Gone Longer than I Had Her'”

5. “11-Year-Old Vanished More Than 20 Years Ago, But Her Devoted Mom Won’t Ever Stop Searching for Her”

6. “Bethany Markowski still missing 18 years after disappearing in Tennessee”

7. “What happened to Bethany Markowski?” — Crime Watch Daily exclusive

8. “Tennessee’s Missing Children Remembered With Candlelight Vigil” / “March 4 Is Tennessee Missing Children’s Day”

9. “Mother remains hopeful for missing daughter 17 years after disappearance”

10. “Searching for Bethany” (Two-part exclusive)

11. “Missing 11-year-old inspires new bill to create day of awareness in Tennessee”

12. “Mom of missing girl stresses importance of fingerprinting in Lexington High School visit”

13. Montel Williams Show appearance

  • Outlet: The Montel Williams Show (syndicated TV)
  • Date: Approximately 2002
  • URL: Not available online
  • Description: Jonnie Carter appeared as a featured guest to discuss Bethany’s disappearance approximately one year after the case.

14. “MISSING: Bethany Markowski” — Murder At Land Between The Lakes Podcast

15. “Missing in Hush Town” — Season 2 (multiple episodes)

Tennessee Missing Children’s Day

March 4 is observed annually as Tennessee Missing Children’s Day, established by Tennessee Code § 15-2-127. The law was passed in 2017 through the efforts of Jonnie Carter and Rep. Darren Jernigan (D-Old Hickory, District 60). The observance raises awareness about child abduction and sexual exploitation and promotes public education on protective measures.

Legislative and statutory records

1. Tennessee Code § 15-2-127 — Tennessee Missing Children’s Day (Statute Text)

News coverage of the legislation and annual observances

2. “Missing 11-year-old inspires new bill to create day of awareness in Tennessee”

3. “Tennessee’s Missing Children Remembered With Candlelight Vigil” / “March 4 Is Tennessee Missing Children’s Day”

4. “Mom responsible for Tennessee Missing Children’s Day still looking for her daughter 20 years later”

5. “Mother seeks answers after daughter missing for 20 years”

6. “Case that inspired TN Missing Children’s Day goes 23 years unsolved”

7. “‘Remember their names’ | Tennessee Missing Children’s Day”

8. “Dear Bethany… 20 Years Missing”

9. “Bethany Markowski still missing 18 years after disappearing in Tennessee”

10. “Mother remains hopeful for missing daughter 17 years after disappearance”

The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc.

The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. is a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Wilson County, Tennessee (EIN: 41-2321010). As of February 2026, no dedicated external press coverage has been published specifically about the foundation’s incorporation or its inaugural March 4, 2026, event at Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, TN. However, several pieces reference the foundation’s predecessor project, its website, or its activities.

Foundation’s own digital presence

1. The Bethany Markowski Foundation — Official Website

  • URL: https://findbethany.org/
  • Description: Official foundation website featuring case details, timeline, FAQ, media coverage archive, community tools, and event information for March 4, 2026.

2. Tennessee Missing Children’s Day Media Kit

3. Givebutter Fundraising Campaign — “Help The Bethany Markowski Foundation Become a Nonprofit”

4. Instagram — @bethanymarkowskifoundation

5. Instagram — @tennesseemissingchildrensday

External coverage referencing the foundation or its activities

6. “‘Remember their names’ | Tennessee Missing Children’s Day”

7. “Searching for Bethany” (Two-part exclusive)

8. “Missing in Hush Town” — Season 2 (ongoing podcast)

9. Missing People in America — Live Interview Event

10. Ground News — Aggregation of WBBJ coverage

Note on the March 4, 2026, inaugural event

As of February 18, 2026, no external media outlet has published coverage or preview of the foundation’s inaugural event at Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, TN on March 4, 2026. All event details are currently found only on findbethany.org. This represents a significant opportunity for media outreach to local outlets including the Lebanon Democrat, The Wilson Post, WKRN, NewsChannel 5, WSMV, and other Middle Tennessee media in the two weeks before the event.

Note on nonprofit registry

The EIN 41-2321010 does not yet appear in public nonprofit databases (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, TaxExemptWorld, etc.), which is consistent with a very recently approved 501(c)(3). IRS database updates typically lag by several months.

Summary and completeness notes

This inventory includes 58+ unique pieces of media coverage spanning 2001 to 2025, comprising:

  • 14 television broadcast segments (WBBJ, WKRN, WBIR, WREG, NewsChannel 5, Crime Watch Daily, Investigation Discovery, Montel Williams Show)
  • 10+ newspaper/print articles (Jackson Sun, The Jackson Post, The Wilson Post, Lebanon Democrat, The Tennessean, USA Today, People Magazine, Seattle Times/AP)
  • 13 online news articles and blog posts (NBC News/Dateline, NewsBreak, GodTube, Medium, Stories of the Unsolved, Middle Tennessee Mysteries, The Suitcase Detective, We The Missing, Today in Fort Smith, Hometown Horrors, True Case Files)
  • 9 podcast series or episodes (Missing in Hush Town, Searching for Ghosts, Missing Persons, Murder at Land Between the Lakes, True Crime Bullsh**, Where Are They?, Serial Napper, Kat and Ashley, Weird True Crime)
  • 8 official database listings (FBI, NCMEC, TBI, Charley Project, Polly Klaas Foundation, CUE Center, Solve the Case, International Missing Persons Wiki)
  • 3 social media/community platforms with dedicated coverage (Reddit, TikTok, Instagram)
  • 1 statutory record (Tennessee Code § 15-2-127)

Items flagged with ⚠️ may be paywalled (primarily Jackson Sun/USA Today Network content) or subscriber-only (The Jackson Post). Original 2001 newspaper coverage from the Jackson Sun is not digitally available but is preserved in clipping form on findbethany.org. The Montel Williams Show appearance (~2002) is not available online.

Quick Facts

ABOUT BETHANY MARKOWSKI

  • Bethany Leanne Markowski was 11 years old when she disappeared on March 4, 2001, in Jackson, Tennessee.
  • Her case has remained open and active for 25 years. She has never been found.
  • Bethany’s disappearance was never captured on mall surveillance — footage showed she never entered Old Hickory Mall, where her father said he took her.
  • Bethany’s case is listed with the FBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
  • An NCMEC age-progressed photo depicts what Bethany may look like today at age 35.
  • Anyone with information is urged to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST. Tips may be anonymous.

ABOUT THE BETHANY MARKOWSKI FOUNDATION, INC.

  • The Bethany Markowski Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Wilson County, Tennessee. EIN: 41-2321010.
  • The foundation was established in 2025 with retroactive recognition to October 2025 and is led by a three-person founding board: Jonnie Carter (Chair), Lori Jackson (Treasurer/Vice-Chair), and Jordan Farrell (Communications Lead/Secretary). Tommie Estraca serves as Board Member at Large.
  • The foundation’s mission is to provide the coordinated support system that did not exist when Bethany went missing — ensuring no Tennessee family ever faces a missing child emergency without resources, community, and hope.
  • Core programs include free children’s fingerprinting services, family support, community search coordination, and child safety education.
  • All foundation services are free to families in crisis.
  • The foundation operates under five core values: hope, compassion, action, community, and integrity.
  • The foundation was built from 25 years of advocacy by Bethany’s mother, Jonnie Carter.

ABOUT TENNESSEE MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY

  • March 4 is officially recognized as Tennessee Missing Children’s Day under Tennessee Code § 15-2-127.
  • The law was passed in 2017 through the efforts of Bethany’s mother, Jonnie Carter, and Tennessee State Representative Darren Jernigan (D-Old Hickory, District 60).
  • The date was chosen specifically to mark the anniversary of Bethany Markowski’s disappearance on March 4, 2001.
  • The observance is designed to raise statewide awareness about child abduction and sexual exploitation and to promote public education on protective measures.
  • 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Bethany’s disappearance and the foundation’s first official public observance of Tennessee Missing Children’s Day as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

ABOUT THE MARCH 4, 2026 EVENT

  • The Bethany Markowski Foundation’s inaugural Tennessee Missing Children’s Day Community Event will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Capitol Theatre, 110 W Main St, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087.
  • Doors open at 5:30 PM. The program begins at 6:00 PM. The event ends at approximately 8:00 PM.
  • Admission is free. The event is open to the public. All ages welcome.
  • The evening includes a speaker program, Jonnie Carter’s keynote address, a silent auction, a candlelight vigil honoring all of Tennessee’s missing children, and a kids’ corner and art station.
  • Free children’s fingerprinting is available to all children ages 1–17 from 5:30–8:00 PM. No appointment necessary. All materials provided.
  • Free child safety education resources are available to all attendees.
  • This is the foundation’s first public event since achieving 501(c)(3) status and marks 25 years since Bethany’s disappearance.
  • Media contact: Jordan Farrell | media@findbethany.org | ‪(615) 784-3287‬

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