"Focus on Safety"

I began by identifying 15 agencies that provide safety education and emergency services in my community. These agencies were invited to make a presentation at the event. I successfully solicited donations of safety items from local businesses to use as door prizes. I sought permission from my school to host the event at the school. I obtained volunteers to help with the event from school clubs and Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. I publicized the event via the newspaper, community newsletters, and fliers distributed at my school and local churches, libraries, and businesses. The greatest challenges I faced were staying organized, identifying the right contact people at the agencies, and following-up on requests when I didn’t receive responses to some of my initial inquiries. The major impact of this event will be the safety choices that people who attended make in response to what they learned at the event. I will never know the accidents that were prevented, but I do know attendees left the event better acquainted with the individuals who provide safety services locally, as well as reminders of safe habits for their homes, their families, and on the road. I was personally responsible for this event, developing the idea, planning and inviting the participants, soliciting donations, scheduling volunteers, and publicizing. Feedback from both participating agencies as well as attendees was 100% positive.