CARING COLORADO! KEEP KIDS ALIVE!

CARING COLORADO!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead

Dear Friend in Safety,

This note is about “Caring Colorado” When it comes to KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®, many Colorado communities put care into action by educating and engaging citizens in making a difference to create safer environments for us all on neighborhood streets, and beyond.

Over the past 11 years, here are examples of how caring has happened in Colorado communities:

• The City of Golden was the first to adopt KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® in the summer of 2000. Their National Night Out observance served as a focal point to roll out the campaign to the community. Many communities across the U.S. have followed suit by integrating a campaign kick-off into their National Night Out (the first Tuesday of August).
• The City of Colorado Springs was the first in the country to utilize billboards and radio public service ads as part of their messaging system to launch the campaign.
• Drive Smart Colorado Springs has distributed KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® key chains to new high school drivers to help promote safe driving behaviors. (Perhaps business sponsors in your community would be open to partnering in such an effort in the future. If so, call 402-334-1391 or e-mail Tom@kkad25.org for information.)
• The City of Thornton was the first to host a community forum as they launched their campaign. I was privileged to speak at the event.
• Thornton was also the first city in the country to produce a KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® PSA to air on local public access stations in the Denver Area.
• The Colorado Springs Police Department partnered with King Soopers to make KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® yard signs more easily available to the public.
• The Lafayette Police Dept. followed suit with a similar partnership with their local ACE Hardware store.
• Of course, Colorado is home to the Pike’s Peak Ascent, which family members and I take on annually as a “Run to Remember” in memory of children who have died in traffic incidents across the U.S. My brother Mike, who’s Michael Everson Insurance Agency in Colorado Springs has been a local and national sponsor for the campaign, is one of our team members. Learn more at KKAD25 "Run to Remember"
• Communities also participating in the campaign include Dacono, Johnstown, Fort Lupton, Jamestown, Lyons, and neighborhoods in Highlands Ranch, Boulder, Greenwood Village, Lakewood, Denver, and Durango.

Caring for the Future

We look forward to supporting future growth of our traffic safety initiatives in Colorado. Here are some ways that you can help.

• Invite your workplace to become a corporate sponsor/partner. Contact 402-334-1391 or Tom@kkad25.org to talk about possibilities.
• Be a catalyst for neighborhood/community involvement. All you need to get started is available for free at KKAD25 Start-up.
• Incorporate KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® into your local Safe Routes to School initiative. For more information on Safe Routes in Colorado, visit Colorado Safe Routes.
• Invite your local school to help seed the campaign in your community through a KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® SCHOOL FUNDRAISER (Click here)
• Invite your local high school to create a safe-driving culture in their school - and in the community as well. (Click here to learn how)

Your community can also benefit from on-site support to develop your community neighborhood traffic safety plan. Call 402-334-1391 or e-mail Tom@kkad25.org for information.

Thank you for all you do to make your neighborhood and community safer for all of us each day. And may you and all you care for have a safe, peaceful, and relaxing summer.

“Don’t Let the 2 Minutes You ‘Save’
Be the Last 2 Minutes of Someone’s Life.”
Adapted from David Townsend (Tia’s father)

In safety,
Tom Everson
Executive Director

KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® - A “For Action” Organization -501(c) (3)
kkad25@kkad25.org
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org – Keep up with the latest at the KKAD25 Blog.

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® and related logos and slogans (Be Aware! Drive With Care®, Check Your Speed®/No Need To Speed®, Stop! Take 3 To See®, Stop Means Stop®, Seat Belts-FASTENATING!®, and It’s Not A Race! Create Space©) are registered trademarks/copyrights of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, P.O. Box 45563 Omaha, Nebraska, 68145. No other entities may use these or similar marks without prior permission. Call 402-334-1391 for information.