Yesterday, at the National Teen Distracted Driving Prevention Summit in Washington, organized by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), NOYS leaders announced a new Youth Correspondent Scholarship, in the amount of $2,500, named for my son Reid and funded by the proceeds of my book, Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving.
In summary, between now and June 2015 when the Scholarship will be awarded, students will compete to propose a social media program aimed at preventing distracted driving, and the winner will be named a NOYS Youth Correspondent and will receive the Reid Hollister Scholarship.
I have been on the speaking trail now for more than one year, promoting Not So Fast by letting audiences know that the book’s proceeds go to the Reid Hollister Memorial Fund, which supports infant and toddler education in Hartford, Connecticut, and traffic safety programs. Earlier this year my family donated $1,500 to a Hartford day care center to buy books for preschoolers to take home to read with their families, and now we are able to dedicate book proceeds to a national traffic safety program, in the form of this NOYS Scholarship.
To say that this is thrilling does not even begin to express how proud we are, as well as grateful to Anita Boles, Karen Patti, and everyone at NOYS for their initiative in devising this unique program.
I was unable to attend the Summit yesterday, but I sent a video, saying that we look forward to proposals for social medial programs that are creative and forceful, and to the winner executing the winning program with energy and dedication.
Thanks to every person and organization who has bought copies of Not So Fast. Together, we are turning tragedy into public service.
