The family of Mollie Tibbetts, a University of Iowa student from Brooklyn, Iowa, missing since July 18, gathered at a press conference Thursday, to announce a reward fund had been set up for their daughter’s safe return.

The fund currently amounts to $172,000 said Laura Calderwood, mother of Mollie Tibbetts.

“As of 9 o’clock yesterday morning the Bring Mollie Tibbetts Home Safe Reward Fund was established and was being funded,” Calderwood said.

The family says they believe Mollie is still alive and this reward could help get her back.

“We believe that Mollie is still alive and if someone has abducted her we are pleading with you to please release her,” Calderwood said.

The family is also partnering with Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa, a non-profit organization designed to give monetary incentives to report crimes or give tips that lead to the arrest of a person.

The tips, which are completely anonymous, will go directly to law enforcement. Investigators have been telling the public that all information, no matter how small, is wanted in the search for Tibbetts.

You can contact Crime Stoppers through their website or by phone at 1-800-452-1111. Their website is also where donations to the reward fund are being accepted.

“The reward fund will continue to grow,” said Greg Willey, a member of Crime Stoppers.

Willey explained the importance of the anonymous tips

“One thing that we have to understand is that if we are going to be able to get her back, we have to get this thing beyond our communities,” Willey said. “If she was abducted and taken somewhere else they have to understand that if they contact us, we can protect their identity.

Willey said they “wouldn’t be able to know you even if we wanted to know you.”

This is because of special software they use that encrypts the message and “scrubs” away the data that could link it back to that person. All the person is left with is an ID number that they can use to prove it was their tip to claim their reward.

Rob Tibbetts, Mollie’s father, told reporters at the conference the family is holding up fine.

“We are putting personal feelings aside,” Rob Tibbetts said. “This is a fight for our daughter, and so we have all the tools we can use.”

He said this investigation would be solved by someone coming forward with information, whether that information was trivial or information that could implicate a friend or family member.

“I have been telling all of you, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.” Rob Tibbetts said. “Come forward, share that information with authorities, and let’s bring Mollie home.”

At a press conference Tuesday, Poweshiek County Sheriff Thomas Kriegel, gave a timeline of events.

Kriegel said a neighbor saw Tibbetts running at approximately 7:30 p.m. on July 18, and reported she was wearing gym shorts, a pink sports bra and running shoes.

Her last known communication with anyone was around 10 p.m. that night — a Snapchat message shared between Tibbetts and her boyfriend, Kriegel said. Her boyfriend has said the Snapchat message appeared to be indoors.

If you or someone you know has any details, no matter how small, in relation to Mollie Tibbetts, investigators say you can call the dedicated tip-line for the case at 1-800-452-1111 or 515-223-1400. There is also a dedicated email that accepts tips: [email protected].