LYNN, Mass. -- A $7,000 reward was established Friday in hopes it will lead to the return of a missing 5-year-old Lynn boy.

Giovanni Gonzalez has not been seen since August 16, 2008, when the boy's father, Ernesto Gonzalez, 36, of Lynn, failed to return the boy to his mother, according to police.

Giovanni was brought by his mother to his father's home at 2 Brightwood Terrace in Lynn on Aug. 15 for a weekend visit. Police said Gonzalez did not return Giovanni to the child's mother, Daisy Colon, 22, of East Boston, at the end of the weekend.

Gonzalez was arrested and charged with child endangerment. He has been held on $500,000 cash bail.

Colon, was able to raise $2,000 toward the reward with the aid of family, friends and the general public.

The Carole Sund-Carrington Foundation of Modesto, Calif., has offered an additional $5,000.00, bringing the total reward amount to $7,000.00.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lynn police at 781-477-4436.