Sunday, December 29, 2013

177 Reasons to Give Thanks in 2013



177 Reasons to Give Thanks in 2013

177 Represents the number of individuals (157), foundations (7), and corporations (13)* who donated a total of $52,369.00 to help grow the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®in the past year. Their (your) generosity helped grow Keep Kids Alive initiatives in over 60 communities representing 24 states throughout the U.S. Many of these communities expanded their neighborhood traffic safety education efforts – New Berlin, WI for the 14th year running. We also established Live Forward! connecting with the families of 75 loved ones who died in traffic-related incidents.

365 represents the minimum number of donors - individuals, corporations, and foundations - we would like to sign on to the Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 mission in 2014. You can help jump-start this number through your donation today @ KKAD25 Donate. 11 of our donors do so monthly through the Network for Good. As always, checks are welcome at:

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144

Your generous giving keeps kids of all ages living.

It's About Kids! It's About Safety! It's About Caring! It's About Time!®

With gratitude and hopes for safe travels in 2014,
Tom Everson
Executive Director/Founder
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
®A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)
402-334-1391
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org 

*Corporations and Foundations Supporting the KKAD25 Mission in 2013

GEICO Philanthropic Fund
Plymouth Rock Assurance (A New Jersey Partner)
Ford Motor Company Fund – Driving Skills for Life
The Conor Lynch Foundation
Clear Channel Media – Omaha
Certified Transmission
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation
Remmeried Construction
Vintage Financial
Werner Enterprises
The Erika Joy Rowan Foundation
UPS
Leonard Becker Construction
Paxton Mitchell Foundation
Omaha Community Foundation’s 24 Hours of Giving
Mama’s Pizza – Omaha
Black Clover Fitness – Omaha
Central States Insurance
Volsted Media
Pella Windows

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Guess the Story Behind these Photos

 

Can you guess the story behind these photos?

They are photos of the World Headquarters of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, including our 6' X 11' Home Office.  KKAD25 was born in our family's front yard in August of 1998 with the goal of establishing a nationwide neighborhood traffic safety campaign.

So what happened? 15 years later, we have worked with citizens, city leaders, schools, civic associations, and businesses in over 1,500 communities representing 49 states, 3 Canadian Provinces, the Bahamas, and Queensland State, Australia in implementing a wide variety of traffic safety initiatives. Along the way dozens of families whose loved ones have died in traffic incidents have connected with our mission in many special ways. 



With the support of our Board of Directors we have grown the mission on austere budgets that in recent years have varied between $55,000 and $85,000 per year. It is the generosity of individuals coupled with support from several corporations that have allowed us to observe 15 anniversaries. From the size of our budget, it goes without saying - although I am writing it out - that we squeeze the very most from every dollar donated to make the Keep Kids Alive  mission happen.

As we look toward year 16 we work for and hope to realize a genuine "tipping point" where funding will allow Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 to connect the dots across America, and eventually the world, to unite all of us as neighbors with a common commitment to creating safer roadway and roadside environments for the safety and benefit of everyone. You can help make this happen through your donation by December 31st (or even after) @ KKAD25 Donate. Checks are always welcome at:

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144

Call or e-mail with questions or ideas for partnering.

And remember, your generous giving keeps kids living.


It's About Kids! It's About Safety! It's About Caring! It's About Time!®

Safe travels,

Tom Everson
Executive Director & Founder
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®
A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)

402-334-1391

12418 C Street

Omaha, NE 68144


Friday, December 13, 2013

Five Words No Parent Ever Wants to Hear


A message from the campaign

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25


As parents, five words we never want to hear are, "I regret to inform you..." -especially if these are delivered by a police officer in the wake of a crash. And yet over 90 families hear words like these each day in the USA.
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is committed to preventing roadway/roadside deaths and injuries. Our mission depends on the support of citizens committed to creating safe roadway/roadside environments in neighborhoods, and beyond. I invite you to be the difference to help us continue to make a difference in 2014. Make your tax-deductible donation today @ KKAD25 Donate
Checks can be sent to:
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144
Its about kids! It's about safety! It's about caring! It's about time!®
Your generous giving keeps kids living.
Safe travels,
Tom Everson
Executive Director/Founder
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)
402-334-1391
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Thank You for Keeping Kids Alive



Dear Friends of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25,

As Thanksgiving is upon us, it is appropriate to give thanks for all the good you have helped bring into the world through your support of our mission these past 15+ years.

We give thanks for…

…The hundreds of neighborhood associations, schools, civic organizations, and individual citizens that have contributed to seeding and growing “Keep Kids Alive” initiatives in over 1,500 communities representing 49 states, the District of Columbia, 3 Canadian Provinces, the Bahamas, and Queensland State Australia.

…The families of loved ones who have died in traffic incidents who have shared the love of their daughters, sons, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and grandparents with our mission through Live Forward! and the “Run to Remember” Many of these families continue to make a difference through foundations established in honor or their loved one to bring great good into the world. Families have also served as inspiration for our traffic safety initiatives.

…The Echo Hills Neighborhood in Sarpy County, Nebraska – the first to initiate KKAD25 in January, 1999.

…The City of Danville, CA – the first to integrate KKAD25 into their traffic-calming program in January, 1999

…The City of New Berlin, WI – the City with the longest-running campaign, 14 years and counting.

…The City of Oceanside, CA – the first to conduct a study on the effectiveness of a KKAD25 yard sign campaign – showed a 16% decrease in average speeds, 6 mph slower.

…The City of Oro Valley, AZ, the first community to initiate “America’s Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive,” resulting in a 13.5% decrease in average speeds, 4.5 mph slower – average speeds down to 24.5 mph

…Over 500 law enforcement agency partners

…Our corporate sponsors and partners, which include:

         Plymouth Rock Assurance of New Jersey, a corporate partner since 2005 that has supported growth of KKAD25 in almost 100 communities throughout the State.

         GEICO Philanthropic Fund, providing support since 2005, and a key catalyst in the growth of “America’s Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive”

         Ford Motor Company Fund – our first “Run to Remember” sponsor and partner with KKAD25 through Driving Skills for Life

         UPS, Wells Fargo Bank, US Bank, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Werner Enterprises, America Family Insurance, Farmers Insurance, AAA Cornhusker Motor Club, Central States Insurance, Clear Channel Communications, and Time Warner Media.

         Our hundreds of individual donors and family foundations who have so generously contributed financially to keep our mission alive to date.

         The generosity of dozens of Board Members who have faithfully worked to guide our mission and keep KKAD25 viable throughout our brief history.

To each of you, may your blessings be easily in evidence as you gather with family and friends to give thanks this Thanksgiving and throughout the Holiday Season.

Safe travels,
Tom Everson
Executive Director & Founder
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
®A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)
402-334-1391
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org 


Sunday, November 10, 2013

Educate Your Driving Brain - Hands and Minds Together

 


Recently I met Nate Jones, a master mechanic who has established "Kids Hands and Minds Together", a non-profit that promotes educating the brain through hands-on activity. The goal is to encourage creativity, three-dimensional problem solving, team building, and convergent thinking (the ability to derive the single best, or most often correct answer to a question). He has established a hands-on laboratory for kids on the U.S.S. Iowa, a WWII era battleship that is now docked in Los Angeles Harbor.


 

Nate got me thinking about the connection between hands and brains when it come to driving. For most of us this means we begin to learn driving skills as teenagers. Obviously driving is a hands-on activity. Our brains must be fully engaged in order to be, and to become, the very best driver possible. Perhaps the most important aspect of hand-brain development when it comes to driving is that of convergent thinking. One of the most basic questions we can ask and answer is, "Why are there traffic laws?"

I would contend any traffic law established for the public good is first and foremost about preserving relationships - with those we love, with those who love us, as well as with all our fellow human beings we will never know that we encounter on or along the road each day. Each of these people also are loved by and love others as well. 

Would it not then make sense to educate our brains through the actions of our hands behind the wheel? Why? To preserve the relationships we have with those we care for and who care for us, as well as for all others we encounter on or around roadways? We can engage in this process by doing the following:

Walk around your vehicle to make sure no children are hiding in blind spots. Use your hands to clean windows, adjust mirrors, correctly position the driver's seat, etc, 

Use your hands to turn off your cell phone and set it aside until I reach my destination

Use your hands to Buckle up and make sure all passengers are buckled up as well


 


Observe all posted speed limits in neighborhoods and beyond, and adjust downward due to presence of children at play, cyclists, road and weather conditions

Create space - at least 3 to 4 seconds between your vehicle and others around you, allowing time to react to the driving behaviors of others

Be a thinker and use your hand to engage your blinker to signal all turns and lane changes

Stop! Take 3 to See at all stop signs regardless of whether or not anyone is present - it is your opportunity to practice making complete stops so you are ready the one time that someone does seem to appear out of nowhere

Observe all traffic signals and traffic signs

Repeatedly practice each and every one of these skills every time you get behind the wheel to help shape your brain to think first about keeping yourself and others safe and alive so that you and others enjoy more fully every good that life brings. 

Finally, think of the ones you love, the ones who are waiting for you to return home safely. Ask the questions:

"Who do I love" and "who loves me?" 

May the faces of all the loved ones you picture in your mind give you the "will" to educate your mind as you practice keeping your hands on the wheel and develop the driving skills necessary to keep kids (of all ages) alive and to make safe driving behaviors a lifetime, life-preserving, and life-saving habit. 



Learn more about how to begin a "Keep Kids Alive" educational campaign in your community @ Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®

"Like" KKAD25 on Facebook
Donate to support our mission at KKAD25 Donate
Your generous giving keeps kids living.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Keeping Kids Alive in 2014 -Who Do You Love? Who Loves You?



Who Do You Love? Who Loves You?
It's About Kids! It's About Safety!
It's About Caring! It's About Time!®

The mission of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® is two-fold:

1. To change the way we drive on neighborhood streets, and beyond, through support of communities in creating comprehensive traffic safety solutions that engage residents as front-line solutions to the problems we create - speeding, stop-sign running, all manner of distracted driving, tailgating, buckling up, etc.
2. To support families who experience the death of a loved one due to a traffic incident through Live Forward!

In addition to continued support for over 1,500 communities developing and implementing neighborhood-based traffic safety education campaigns, major priorities for KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25 include:
  • Establishing an endowment to support future growth of the KKAD25 mission
  • Development and funding for Live Forward! to support families whose loved ones have died due to a traffic incident in creating legacies to honor their lives and to bring greater good into the world.

  • Develop and fund the national “Who do you love? Who loves you?” educational media campaign promoting safe driving behaviors.
  • Continued development and funding of “America’s Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive”
  • Continued development and funding of A License to Live” - a peer-to-peer marketing campaign promoting safe driving behaviors among high school students.

Make your tax deductible donation today @ KKAD25 Donate Checks can be sent to:

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144


Thank you for your consideration and support. Your generous giving keeps kids living.

Questions? Call 402-334-1391

KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® - A Non-Profit Corporation 501(c)(3)
12418 C Street Omaha, NE 68144 (402) 334-1391 www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org