For Immediate Release

December 19, 2001

Contact: Jan Stegelman, 785-296-1223

Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition Presents Awards

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition presented awards to several individuals and organizations with during its annual meeting on December 4, 2001.

The Outstanding Coalition Member award for 2001, the highest award given by the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition, was presented to Mike Cameron, for outstanding service to the Coalition and to Kansas children in the interest of childhood injury prevention. During the past year Mr. Cameron took the lead in developing landlord-tenant education materials regarding the smoke detector act and community outreach materials for fire/burn injury prevention. Mr. Cameron graduated from Washburn University in 1997 with a degree in Mass Media and is currently employed by the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office.

The Outstanding Coalition Organization Award 2001, which is awarded to a member organization whose policies and activities make a significant contribution to the mission and goals of the Coalition, was presented to State Farm Insurance Companies. State Farm has provided trained volunteers, including four-day certified technicians, and child safety seats for events all over the state. In addition, during 2001 they co-sponsored Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition 9-1-1 day in Kansas by providing two 9-1-1 simulators for use during the state fair and provided magnets and candy for children completing the simulator.

Dean Tucker, Osage City was presented with the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition Volunteer of the Year Award for 2001. In addition to his volunteer work as coordinator of the Osage County SAFE KIDS Chapter, Mr. Tucker is a certified child passenger safety technician and instructor for Kansas. He conducts and/or coordinates 4-6 check up events per year. John Drees, coordinator of the Douglas County SAFE KIDS Coalition, received a special recognition award for coordinating the "Most Improved Coalition" 2001.

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition, Inc. is a nonprofit group of 67 statewide organizations and businesses that have joined to protect Kansas children from unintentional injury -- the leading killer of Kansas kids. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Anderson, Barber, Clay, Ford, Johnson, Marion, Montgomery, Osage, Pottawatomie, and Shawnee Counties, as well as Hutchinson, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Norton, Salina, and Wichita. Kansas SAFE KIDS is part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.

1000 SW Jackson
Suite 230
Topeka, KS 66612-1274
(785) 296-1223
(785) 296-8645 (FAX)

Coordinator:
Jan Stegelman
Kansas Department of
Health and Environment

Executive Committee:
Dennis Cooley, MD
Medical Advisor
American Academy of
Pediatrics, Kansas
Chapter

Sgt. John Eichkorn
Kansas Highway Patrol

Sally Finney
Kansas Public
Health Association

Cindy Hermes
State Capitol Area
Firefighters Association

Ami Hyten
Kansas Trial Lawyers
Association

James Keating
Kansas State
Association of Fire Chiefs

Roseanne Rutkowski
Kansas State Nurses
Association