Child Safety Advocates Honored For Service, Leadership

INDIANAPOLIS -- Many of the 6,000 deaths and 120,000 unintentional injuries among children each year can be avoided. That's the thrust behind Indiana SAFE KIDS Coalition's recognition of child safety advocates throughout the state.

The recipients were honored May 7 at a special ceremony at the White River Gardens, Indianapolis. The recipients and their respective categories:
Individual: Bus Education for Elementary Students program, Elkhart
Government: Indiana Rep. William Crawford, Indianapolis
Business: Kenneth Allen and Associates, Goshen
Law Enforcement: Cpl. Tim Williams, Mishawaka Police Department
SAFE KIDS: Dubois County SAFE KIDS chapter, Jasper
Community Agency: Greater Indianapolis Branch of the NAACP
Media: Lauren Zeugner, The Paper Incorporated, Elkhart
Medical: Nena Ray, Think First program, Indianapolis

Several individuals and organizations also were recognized for their child-safety promotion programs, including Karen Bruner-Stroup, director of the Community Education Department, Riley Hospital for Children; Buckle Up Bug program, Indianapolis; Leatherman Supply, Goshen; and Rosette Partridge, the Indiana University School of Nursing.

"Prevention of unintentional injuries is something in which every adult in our state needs to participate," says Keisha Nickolson, project manager of the Indiana SAFE KIDS Coalition and Automotive Safety Program at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "Many individuals and organizations in Indiana go above and beyond the call of duty to further children's safety and that's why we recognize them."

Karen Freeman-Wilson, former Indiana Attorney General, was the featured speaker and assisted with the awards presentation.

The Indiana SAFE KIDS Coalition has 22 chapters, and is part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the nation's only organization dedicated exclusively to prevent unintentional childhood injuries.

The IU School of Medicine Automotive Safety Program provides information, programming and other resources throughout the state to promote safe travel for all Hoosiers. It works with law enforcement agencies, medical organizations and emergency medicine groups, fire departments, educators and private citizens.

For more details about the Indiana SAFE KIDS Coalition or the Child Safety Advocate Awards recipients, contact Keisha Nickolson at (317) 278-3218.

Media Contact: Joe Stuteville
Tel: (317)274-7722
Email: jstutevi@iupui.edu

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