Melba High School awarded $5,000 teen driver safety grant from State Farm
Boise, Idaho, April 18, 2012 - Melba High School has been awarded a $5,000 grant from State Farm® supporting their teen driver safety campaign, Just Drive. This is the third year the company has supported the program. In the hallways, at lunch and in the classrooms students will make a pledge starting this week to stop texting and driving. Next Tuesday the campaign Just Drive shifts into high gear bringing together students, community members and legislators for an all school assembly.
“It’s our hope that through the efforts of parents, teens and this community we can put an end to texting and driving and make it an automatic response, second nature similar to wearing a seatbelt,” says local State Farm Agent Brandon Starwalt. “A recent survey we conducted indicates young drivers aren’t getting the message, despite all our best efforts. We’re proud to support Melba High School, keeping the conversation in front of teens and saving lives.”
Shauna and Clay Sauer, the parents of Taylor Sauer whose name is now known across the nation when she was tragically killed earlier this year while texting and driving, will be guest speakers during the assembly at Melba High School.
“We know there won’t be a dry eye at the assembly as Mr. and Mrs. Sauer talk to our students about the love and loss of their daughter, Taylor,” said Melba High School Teacher and Just Drive Faculty Sponsor Tim Helgerson. “Witnessing the aftermath of such a tragedy is something that will likely stay with these kids forever. We hope it’s enough to really emphasize what it means to make the right decisions.”
A portion of State Farm’s $5,000 grant will help fund the Just Drive campaign memorabilia. T-shirts, backpacks and fly swatters will be subtle reminders to put cell phones away, hands on the wheel, eyes forward and simply Just Drive.
Contact
Angela M. Thorpe, Media Relations (303) 264-1560
Media resources
Melba High School Faculty Sponsor Tim Helgerson
Recent State Farm Teen Texting Survey
State Farm Agent Brandon Starwalt
About State Farm®
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 43 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.
