"Drive 25 Campaign" to Keep Kids Alive

The "Drive 25 Campaign" coincides with the 13th birthday of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25.

Over the past 13 years we have been privileged to work with over 1,300 communities representing 49 states in creating safer neighborhood streets for the benefit of all. Along the way, we have connected with many families who have adopted our mission in the wake of the death of a loved one due to a traffic incident. It is always a special privilege to partner with these families to bring greater good into the world in memory of their loved one. Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is the only non-profit in the country that targets neighborhood traffic safety, as well as a host of other traffic safety concerns, along with support of families of victims of motor vehicle incidents.

With our mission in mind, we are working to build a funding base that will allow us to expand the reach and scope of our work in the years ahead. In doing so, we are presenting 3 opportunities for individuals to support our mission. These include:

• Becoming a monthly donor for $10.00 or more (each month) through the Network for Good Giving System. Our page can be found at KKAD25 Network for Good.  An option is to do this through a bank draft which can be set up at most banks to be sent out each month.
• Becoming a donor to support our annual "Run to Remember" team as part of the Pike's Peak Ascent Trail Race. This fundraiser supports the families of loved ones who have died in traffic incidents. This past August 20th was our 5th "Run to Remember." We worked to raise $7,800 - $1.00 for each foot of elevation change from the beginning of the race at 6,300 ft. altitude to the summit of Pike's Peak at 14, 115 ft. This year we ran to remember 51 loved ones representing 49 families from across the country. For more information and to make a donations, please visit "Run to Remember" We are now preparing for the 6th "Run to Remember" August 18, 2012
• If you are in position to do so, consider making a donation of $1,000.00 or more towards our mission. Our goal is at least 25 donors at this level in the year ahead. We welcome corporate donors/partners as well.

Donations can be made at anytime of year through our PayPal account at KKAD25 Donate. Checks can be sent to:

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

For additional information, please visit our site at www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org. For a sense of what others have to say about us, Guidestar, a non-profit watchdog organization, posts reviews of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, along with financial information, at GuideStar KKAD25

Please call or e-mail with any questions you may have. I welcome the opportunity to visit in person if you would like to do so.

Your consideration is greatly appreciated..
Your generous giving keeps kids living.
With gratitude,
Tom Everson
Executive Director
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)
12418 C Street
Omaha, NE 68144
402-334-1391 Office www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org      

"America's Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive"

 

"America's Trash Talks to 

Keep Kids Alive"

"America's Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive" is the latest initiative from Keep Kids Alive Drive 25.

The premise is simple; to get the "Keep Kids Alive" message out on the side of every trash can in America - both curbside and in alleys.

We welcome you to partner – through your neighborhood/homeowners association, local trash hauler, business, school, faith community, or civic organization (or all of these organizations working together).

How?

Through use of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®, Be Aware! Drive With Care®, No Need To Speed®, and Check Your Speed® decals. The goal is to decal every trash can on every neighborhood street and alleyway in America

Why?

To reduce motor vehicle deaths and injuries. It's that simple - get all citizens involved in sending out one or more of the "Keep Kids Alive" safety messages in order to create safer roadway environments for the benefit of pedestrians and cyclists of all ages, as well as motorists themselves. (The City of Oro Valley, AZ applied these decals to trash cans and saw average speeds plummet to 24.5 mph on residential streets - a 13% decrease.)

What is needed?

Partners - environmental waste companies, insurance companies, local businesses, schools, faith communities, and civic organizations to partner with Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 in implementing this goal in communities nationwide.

Local Trash Hauler in Escondido, CA affixed

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® 

signs to their trucks, making them rolling billboards inviting all to slow down on residential streets.

What is the role of partners?

Examples include the following:

• Environmental waste companies that provide trash and recycling bins to municipalities and neighborhoods add one or more of the Keep Kids Alive messages via decals on the side of all trash/recycling bin.
• Insurance companies utilize agents to distribute decals to policyholders. These decals can integrate company logos into decals in order to recognize sponsorship
• Local businesses can sponsor decals and distribute through customer service, check out lanes, service counters, as well as through employees. Businesses can be recognized by integrating company logos into decals to recognize sponsorship
• Schools and civic organizations can distribute decals to families and members. Civic organizations can partner as local/regional/national sponsors as well

How can your business, school, civic organization get involved?

Get started today by ordering decals at “America’s Trash Talks”.  For more information, contact Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 at 402-334-1391 or kkad25@kkad25.org.

We look forward to partnering with you as "America's Trash Talks to Keep Kids Alive"

Practicing Courtesy to Keep Kids Alive

This morning at a local YMCA I noticed a lesson that can be applied to our driving behaviors.


An older gentleman held the door open for a troop of kids participating in summer camp. The first 10 or so walked through without saying a word. Then, one young boy - probably 7 years-old - said "thank you." Every child who followed him thanked the man for holding the door. That young boy had set courtesy in motion with two simple words - thank you.


Opportunities present themselves every day to start a wave of courtesy on roadways throughout the world. What do these opportunities look like?


They look like stopping at stop signs, using turn signals, obeying speed limits, and setting cell phones aside to concentrate on the task at hand - driving.


What drives you to courtesy behind the wheel? Your examples are welcome.

In safety,
Tom Everson
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org 

Every Decision You Make Behind the Wheel Can Keep Kids Alive

A friend shared the following wisdom gained from her high school driver's ed teacher.

When driving, ask:
"Will the decision I am about to make behind the wheel help to keep me and others alive?"
This question can be expanded to concretely address many unsafe driving behaviors, including:
Will turning off my cell phone before I begin driving help to keep me and others alive?

Will wearing a seat belt and expecting others in my vehicle to do so help to keep me and others  alive?

Will observing the posted speed limit, and adjusting downward to account for the presence of pedestrians, cyclists, kids at play, and weather conditions help to keep me and others alive?

Will stopping at each and every stop sign and correctly observing all traffic signals and signage help to keep me and others alive?

Will maintaining a safe distance between my vehicle and others around me help to keep me and others alive?

This is just a starter list of questions. What would you add to the list?

"Don't let the 2 minutes you 'save' be the last 2 minutes of someone's life." David Townsend - Tia's Dad

In safety,

Tom Everson

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Tom@kkad25.org 

A Compassion that Moves Us to Action to Keep Kids Alive

Recently I viewed an on-line video of Krista Tippett on "Reconnecting with Compassion." Her insights challenged me to think about compassion as it relates to the mission and work of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25.


How so?


She shares that "story" is a critical element of compassion. To me this says that sharing our stories is critical to moving us toward action to bring greater good into our world. In the case of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 I have experienced this great goodness through the families that survive loved ones who have died in motor vehicle incidents. These are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who choose to create a legacy of good in our world in memory of their loved one. In doing so they keep their loved one's story alive in a way that calls us all to make a positive difference through our driving behaviors, and, in fact, through the ways we live our whole lives. 


Who are some of these families?


The Reynolds - see Cady
The Rowans - see Erika

The Prestons - see Graeme
The McPhersons - see Brandon
The MacMillans - see Nick
The Mairs - see Gabby

The Ranyaks - see Emily
The Schmills - see Matt


There are so many others as well, including the Lynch family setting up a foundation in memory of Conor, the Martin family who work with middle school students to help enact safer school zone laws in Florida in memory of Shaye, the Fosters who worked with legislators, friends, and city officials to enact a new law in Texas in memory of Kyle - and the list goes on.


Each story of these loved ones calls us to a compassionate response when it comes to our own driving behaviors, and, perhaps, in taking the opportunity to simply listen to someone we know who has experienced the death of a loved one. As we all know, but may not always say, the last thing we want to have happen is for others to forget our loved one. Stories keep the love and life they shared, and continue to share, alive.


Each year we try to do our part to keep the stories of loved ones alive through the annual "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Run to Remember." Learn more at "Run to Remember."


In the meantime, let's each take the words of David Townsend to heart when he compassionately invites us to remember his daughter Tia, and all loved ones who die in traffic incidents:


"Don't let the 2 minutes you 'save' be the last 2 minutes of someone's life."


May we all move forward - on foot, on pedal, and in motor vehicles - with compassion.


Tom Everson
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org 

"Cell-Off" to Keep Everyone Alive!

The 1st Ever National “Cell-Off!” 

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 joins the National Safety Council – Omaha Chapter, the C.A.R. Alliance, and other partners in observing the first national “Cell-Off” on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011.


The goal? Turn off the phone and drive!  Just don’t use your cell phone for any reason at all while driving.


It’s amazing what could happen. You can do things like:

• Walk around your car to make sure no-one is behind you when backing up or in front of you before going forward – see “Kids and Cars.”
• Buckle up – Your hands are free to do so. Remember, “Seat Belts-FASTENATING!”
• Observe pedestrians in crosswalks, pedestrians of all ages, cyclists, and so many others
• Observe Stop signs correctly – Stop! Take 3 To See
• Observe all Traffic signals
• Observe posted speed limit signs, going slower when pedestrians/cyclists are present or when weather conditions warrant doing so
• Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and others – “It’s Not A Race! Create Space”

This is the opportunity we have all been waiting for – the chance for each of us to refine our driving skills.


E-mail kkad25@kkad25.org for a free "Cell-Off" flier to post at your office, school, civic organization, faith community, or community bulletin board at local businesses. Invite everyone to participate in the “Cell-Off.” The life saved may be your own or of someone you love.

In safety,
Tom Everson
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization
Donate today at KKAD25 Donate
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Celebrating Life Well-Lived: Keeping Memories Alive

Recently Wendy and I attended a "Celebration of Life and Friendship" in memory of Shannon Lloyd. Shannon died June 5, 2001 at age 7 from internal injuries sustained when she was hit as she began a short journey on her bike to visit a friend. Her mother was but a few feet away, and Shannon wore her helmet. Even so, a tragic incident occurred that impacted many lives.

Each year since her death, Shannon's parents, Anne and Russ, have gathered friends of Shannon together for a 'Celebration of Life and Friendship" in her honor and memory on the Saturday in June closest to June 5th. It has been amazing throughout the years to share this celebration and all the stories shared about Shannon and her continued influence on and presence in the lives of so many.

In my own experience, I have been privileged to have Shannon's life and spirit be a part of our annual "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Run to Remember" as part of the Pike's Peak Ascent Trail Race since 2007. Anne intimated that Shannon always liked to tell people to "run like the wind." During our first "Run to Remember," a gentle breeze stirred across my face about half-way up the 13.3 mile trail on Pike's Peak. For me, it was a stirring reminder of Shannon's presence and encouragement. It continues as a fond memory each time I trek the Peak.

Life has been challenging for Shannon's family, as it is for any family moving forward from the gloom and grief of a tragic death. Yet, the celebration of her life and friendship each year re-charges the spirits of all involved reminding us of the goodness and love Shannon shared in her 7 years on earth, and of her continued invitation to us all to be thankful for the blessings of each and every family member and friend that graces our lives each day.

If you are a member of a family who has experienced a sad, tragic death due to a traffic incident, or any other circumstance or illness, perhaps initiating your own celebration of life and love in honor of and memory of your loved one is just what is needed to bring family and friends together. Why? To share fond memories as well as stories about the positive ways that your loved one has influenced, and continues to influence, your life and the lives of so many others.

I believe that when it comes to creating our own celebrations of life that Shannon would like us to take the idea and "run like the wind" to make it happen.

In gratitude for the gift of each and every life,

Tom Everson

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org