Erik Estrada, who everyone remembers as Officer Frank Poncherello on the TV show CHiPs, stars in Finding Faith, a Dove-approved cautionary tale of teen abduction inspired by actual events. It was released on DVD February 4th, 2014.
The ripped-from-the-headlines story inspired by a compilation of actual events that Sheriff Mike Brown has investigated through his Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Made to inform parents, educators and concerned citizens on how children are being targeted, this powerful, cautionary tale should be mandatory viewing for every family.
The Garrett family leads a picture-perfect small town life. They are financially secure, their two children excel academically, socially and spiritually and they spread a contagious kindness throughout their community. But when 14-year-old Faith Garrett is abducted, their strength is put to the test as they struggle to find their missing daughter.
"Need your faith increased? Watch this movie and it just might happen"
-- The Dove Foundation
"Finding Faith is a must-see film for every family in the country"
-- Donald J. Brackman, Director, National White Collar Crime Center
ABOUT ERIK ESTRADA:
In 2000, Estrada was named the international "Face" of D.A.R.E. which is a campaign against drugs. He also speaks out for the American Heart Association, The United Way, and the C.H.P. 11-99 Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides benefits and Scholarships to California Highway Patrol family members as well as funeral expenses for fallen officers.
Estrada's experience in CHiPs led him to become a reserve officer for the Muncie Police Department in Indiana. Estrada became spokesperson for the C.H.P.'s "car seat inspection and installation" program. He has made numerous appearances supporting automobile child-seat safety checks across the country.
In the 1970 film The Cross and the Switchblade, Estrada played Nicky Cruz, alongside Pat Boone, who played the role of David Wilkerson. In 1974, Estrada took part in the disaster film, Airport 1975, where he played a role as the flight engineer on a Boeing 747. His character was killed in a midair collision. Two years later, he was a player in the military historical epic Midway, as a fictional airman Ens. "Chili Bean" Ramos.
Starting in 1977, Estrada co-starred as Frank "Ponch" Poncharello in the TV series CHiPs. In 1978, he began training in martial artswith SeishinDo Kenpo instructor Frank Argelander (aka Frank Landers), to prepare for a two-part episode of the series. The two of them appear on the cover of Fighting Stars Magazine that same year, discussing Estrada's training regime. On August 6, 1979, Estrada was seriously injured while filming a scene on the set of CHiPs, fracturing several ribs and breaking both wrists after he was thrown from his motorcycle.
Later in 1979, Estrada was voted one of "The 10 Sexiest Bachelors in the World" by People magazine and was featured on the cover of the November issue.
In the 1980s, Estrada made a return to series television in a 1987 three-part episode of the police drama Hunter. In the 1990s, Estrada played the role of Johnny, a Tijuana trucker, in the Televisa telenovela Dos mujeres, un camino ("Two women, one road"). Originally slated for 100 episodes, the show went to 400-plus episodes and became the biggest telenovela in Latin American history.>P> In 1994, Estrada began co-hosting the syndicated outdoor adventure show American Adventurer which ran until 2004. He has also been seen on a few episodes of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch as himself, seen in a daydream cloud in Hilda's mind and driving a car as Hilda zapped herself in his car.
In 1997, Estrada wrote his autobiography, Erik Estrada: My Road from Harlem to Hollywood. In 1998, he returned as the character Francis "Ponch" Poncherello in the TNT made-for-TV movie CHiPs '99, along with the rest of the original cast.