Traffic Safety Foundation Newsletter. - AAA

NEWSLETTEROCTOBER 2014THE SOUTHEAST CELEBRATESAAA SCHOOL SAFETY PATROLLERSThe AAA School Safety Patrol Program is the longest-running, and perhapsmost prominent, way that the Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundationserves the communities where we live and work. Each year, a new crop ofyoung student leaders are trained and equipped to help keep their fellowclassmates safe as they travel to and from school each day.Celebrations are held annually to reward Patrollers for all of their hard workand recognize the best of the best, where one student in each state ischosen as the AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award. These winnersmust demonstrate exceptional amountsof leadership, safety skills, school involvementand volunteerism.FloridaOn May 9, more than 750 Florida Patrollersand school chaperones gathered atUniversal Studios in Orlando for the AnnualAAA School Safety Patrol Appreciation DayEvent. During the event, the AAA SchoolSafety Patrol Patroller of the Year Award waspresented to Timiah Sinclair of Richard L.Brown Elementary in Jacksonville. Timiahdelivered her award-winning essay in aAAA Regional President Ed Diaz,AAA School Safety Patroller of theYear Timiah Sinclair, ACG TrafficSafety Foundation’s John Pecchio.speech to the attendees, which included her family. After the event, theentire group headed into the theme park for a fun-filled day of rides andentertainment.(story continued on next page)AAA PROMISE WRAPS UPANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEARAAA PROMise aims to reduce the number ofyouth under the age of 21 killed in alcohol- ordrug-related crashes. The campaign focuseson prom through graduation season, whenmany of these crashes occur. AAA PROMiseasks teens to promise not to drink alcoholor take drugs, not todrive impaired, andto never get in thecar with anyone whocould be impairedwhile behind thewheel. Parents promiseto speak openlywith their teens aboutthe dangers of impaireddriving and tocalmly pick their teensup if they call for help,recognizing that theyhave made a gooddecision not to driveimpaired or ride withsomeone else whomight be driving whileThis year, theAAA PROMisecampaignsuccessfullyreached233 schoolsin targetedgeographicareas of Florida,Georgia,Tennessee andWisconsin.impaired. AAA promises to tow the family carhome free of charge, should a parent needto get their teen home safely during the promthrough graduation season.(story continued on next page)TF-0142

(SAFETY PATROL continued)AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Prestin Boyd (right) was among those who attendeda learning event at Six Flags Over Georgia (left).GeorgiaIn Georgia, the First Annual AAA School Safety Patrol Appreciation Eventwas held outside of Atlanta at Six Flags Over Georgia on May 16. Morethan 200 Patrollers and school chaperones gathered in Six Flags’ AxisArena as the AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award was presentedto Prestin Boyd of Bethlehem Elementary School in Bethlehem. AfterPrestin received his award for outstanding service and dedication towardsthe AAA School Safety Patrol program, he delivered his winning essay ina speech to the attendees. Once the festivities were over, the entire groupattended the ‘Career, Safety, and Leadership Day,’ experiencing hands-onlearning in Six Flags Over Georgia’s outdoor classroom.(AAA PROMISE continued)This year, the AAA PROMise campaign successfullyreached 233 schools in targetedgeographic areas of Florida, Georgia, Tennesseeand Wisconsin. Almost 30 differentAAA PROMise presentations on the consequencesof impaired driving were made tohigh school students. Victims of impaireddriving crashes and representatives fromMADD, law enforcement and first respondersconveyed their strong messages soteens can understand the significance ofmaking safe decisions on prom and graduationnight. Students, parents and schoolswere also equipped with tools to help communicateand promote the program, suchas pledge posters, newsletter articles, factsheets, message points, t-shirts, buttonsand a unique AAA PROMise card that outlinedboth the teen and parent agreement.Left: AAA School Safety Patrollers visited Washington, D.C., in their annual trip to the nation’scapital. Right: Cole Pittman, pictured with family members, is the state’s Patroller of the Year.TennesseeTo honor its participants, Tennessee held its 58th Annual AAA School SafetyPatrol Trip to Washington, D.C. More than 1,800 patrollers, 208 chaperonesand 13 medical personnel rode in 42 motor coaches, traveling with a policeescort to the Nation’s Capital. From May 30 through June 2, Tennessee AAASchool Safety Patrollers were able to visit the White House, Arlington NationalCemetery, Smithsonian Institution, Lincoln Memorial, Mount Vernon and NationalZoo. The highlight of the trip was when the group became the largestever allowed on the floor of the House of Representatives, and patrollers wereable to sit in the seats normally occupied by the representatives themselves.A separate event was held on May 22 at Dogwood Elementary School inGermantown to celebrate the AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year forTennessee. The gymnasium bleachers were filled with patrollers, classmates,siblings, parents and grandparents as Cole Pittman was honored with theaward and read his award-winning essay, “How Participating in the AAASchool Safety Patrol Program Helped Me Become a Better Leader.”The Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation asks everyone to keep all ofthese young leaders in mind, as school is back in session.Keeping You Safe Along Life’s Road.YOU CAN HELPThe stories above are just a sampleof the great programs the Auto ClubGroup Traffic Safety Foundationmakes possible. Our goal is to keepyou and your family safe along life’sroad—whether that is in a car, ona bike, or even just on a walk. As a501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, thefoundation works to make schools,communities and roads safer foreveryone by providing resources andeducational programs for children,teens, adults and seniors.For more information or to makea tax-deductible donation, pleasevisit AAA.com/Foundation.