Minnesota Professional Partner Organizations: United Legacy

United Legacy is a Minnesota based Nonprofit organization that offers a no cost missing person search management service. It is the mission of United Legacy and our volunteers to help bridge the gap between communities, local officials, and families during the search for a missing loved one. United Legacy was founded by the Family of Christopher Rossing, 25, of Annandale who tragically went missing from Howard Lake, MN in 2014. It was through the unimaginable search for Christopher that a need was realized, and a mission was born. It is in times of great fear and living in the unknown that United Legacy offers step-by-step guidance, advocacy, and support while working hand-in-hand with families of the missing. When called upon by law enforcement to assist, United Legacy helps organize both public and private search efforts. United Legacy aids and assists by utilizing a multitude of resources such as: onsite public volunteer training, food, shelter and supplies for emergency/non emergency search management, medical personnel, volunteer searchers, equine teams, K-9 units, divers, ATV, Argo, drone, helicopter searches, and more. United Legacy offers public and private training events for First-Aid/CPR/AED, Wilderness First-Aid, volunteer training, specialty search training, and currently developing an advanced public training program. Volunteers, donations and resources alike provide United Legacy with direct support for families, and ongoing search management needs. At United Legacy, the search for missing loved ones is ongoing. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, all families deserve answers and support on their journey to find a missing loved one. 

Being partnered with The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center has enriched United Legacy as an organization in so many ways. United Legacy has had the honor of partnering with JWRC for nearly 5 years during public/private searches, awareness campaigns, and public safety for partnered events. United Legacy volunteers have learned valuable tools over the years with our partnership. These tools have strengthened our training programs, particularly in sensitivity training, stages of grief, self-care, crisis response, and ongoing trauma support. The caring staff at JWRC, the Wetterling Family, and my personal mentor Mrs. Jane Straub, have all demonstrated great leadership, compassion, patience, and understanding. This level of support and understanding reaches not only United Legacy, but also our family, and most importantly the families we serve. We at United Legacy feel humbled to be partnered with an organization that has empowered such positive change over the course of 30 years. Our gratitude is immeasurable.

Happy 30th Anniversary to The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, the amazing staff, and to the Wetterling family. Through your sacrifices over the years have brought so much light, love and hope to so many.

Thank you for 30 years of service! 

United Legacy search and rescue event
United Legacy Founder Deanna Villella