Ed Smart
Ed Smart is the owner of a real estate and mortgage company based in Salt Lake City. He is the father of Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted on June 5, 2002, and miraculously rescued nine months later.
Through the loss and return of his daughter, he sought the passage of the "Amber Alert," for the protection and rescue of other children. He lobbied Congress and the Senate to prevent further abductions and to rescue missing children. He has been involved in numerous conferences designed to further the awareness and cooperation in the area of child protection within law enforcement, media, and the public.
Smart has become a nationally renowned spokesperson for child protection, advocating for legislation and non-profit organizations that focus on the prevention and recovery of missing children. He works with and serves on the board of several non-profit agencies including, the National Child ID program, sponsored by the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association), radKIDS, and the I Keep Safe program from the Governors’ Spouses Coalition for Internet safety. Ed is also a member of the Utah’s Amber Alert committee and a frequent guest speaker for law enforcement and other agencies involved in protecting children from predators.
Smart is the vice president of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation. He is Rehab and Prevention Program Director with Operation Underground Railroad, a nonprofit group traveling around the world to save kids forced into the sex trade. Authorities estimate 2 million children worldwide are being trafficked for sex. “It is more common,” Smart said. “Any time you have a resort area more than likely trafficking is going on there. Any time there's a big sporting event in the United States you can believe trafficking is going on.” Operation Underground Railroad has produced a new documentary called The Abolitionists. It shows investigators rescuing endangered children and going after the adult perpetrators around the world.
He graduated from George Washington University with a BBA in finance and an MBA with an emphasis in Urban Planning. He and his wife Lois reside in Salt Lake City, Utah, and are the parents of six children. The Smarts are the authors of Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Journey of Faith and Hope.
