California Casualty
Mark Goldberg, 719.532.8436
mgoldberg@calcas.com
Impact Teen Drivers
Kelly Browning, Ph.D., 916.733.7432
kbrowning@impactteendrivers.org
$12,000 Awarded in National “Create Real Impact” Teen Safe Driving Campaign
San Mateo, CA, April 16, 2018 – Impact Teen Drivers and California Casualty have teamed up with students and schools across the nation for the Spring 2018 Create Real Impact awards.
After a thorough review of the entries and online voting, a total of $12,000 in educational grants was awarded for creative efforts to address the dangers of distracted driving aimed at teenagers.
The following students were chosen for $1,500 grand prize educational grants:
- Alexander Larson, Renton, WA, in the writing category for the essay, “The Controller”
- Casey Thompson, Maplewood, NJ, in the music category for the song “Distracted Driving”
- Bailey Smith, North Ogden, UT, in the video category for “Decide Before You Drive”
- Libby Silverson, South Lyon, MI, in the art category for the poster “Priorities”
The schools with the largest number of entries were Fairfield-Suisun Public Safety Academy in Fairfield, California, Gunnison Valley High School in South Gunnison, Utah and Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Oregon. Fairfield-Suisun Public Safety Academy was awarded $1,000, with Gunnison Valley High School and Liberty High School each receiving $500.
The contest encourages peer-to-peer messages and creative expression from students to help stem the tide of distracted and reckless driving, the number one killer of young drivers.
Preventing inattentive driving is more important than ever. The National Safety Council has issued a call to action after a sudden and dramatic rise in traffic deaths the past three years, many caused by reckless actions or drivers not paying attention to the road.
“The Create Real Impact contest is a creative way to empower youth to develop life-saving messaging which is both relevant and effective at reaching peers in their social media comfort zone,” said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., Executive Director, Impact Teen Drivers.
Students ages 14-22 were invited to offer their artistic solutions to this critical teen driving danger with essays, artwork, videos and music. More than 4,500 submissions were received and winners were determined by a panel of judges and by online voting for prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500.
The winning entries can be viewed at www.createrealimpact.com.
Impact Teen Drivers has reached more than two million teens since 2007 and the Create Real Impact contest began in 2009. California Casualty is a founding partner of the nonprofit and continues to provide support for the contest. California Casualty representatives will help present checks to the winning schools and awardees.
“The importance of this contest can’t be overstated,” said California Casualty CEO Beau Brown. “While insurance can replace a mangled vehicle, we can’t replace a teenager’s life. In a split second, everything for that family changes forever; it’s a terrible tragedy that no one should endure.”
The 2018 Fall Create Real Impact contest will take place August through October. Entries will be taken at www.createrealimpact.com. For more information on how to get schools and students involved, please contact info@impactteendrivers.org.
Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty provides auto and home insurance to educators, firefighters, law enforcement and nurses across the country. Founded in 1914, California Casualty has been led by four generations of the Brown family. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit www.calcas.com or call 1.800.800.9410.
