For Immediate Release

December 31, 2002

Contact: Jan Stegelman 785-296-1223
or Cherie Sage 785-296-0351

KANSAS SAFE KIDS COALITION PRESENTS AWARDS

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition presented awards to several individuals and organizations during its annual meeting on December 3, 2002.

The Outstanding Coalition Member award for 2002, the highest award given by the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition, was presented to Lt. John Eichkorn, Kansas Highway Patrol, for outstanding service to the Coalition and to Kansas children in the interest of childhood injury prevention. During the past year Lt Eichkorn coordinated many state child passenger safety efforts with the coalition. He has assisted local coalitions in their safety efforts and has coordinated coalition efforts at the state fair. He developed and duplicated a booster seat use video for the coalition. Lt. Eichkorn also provided leadership by serving two terms on the executive board. Previous recipients of this award include Gene Neely, Topeka, in 1996, Jim Keating, St. Marys, in 1997, Sherri Cannon, Lawrence, in 1998, John Hartnett, Topeka, in 1999, Carolyn Jenlink, Wichita, in 2000, and Mike Cameron, Topeka, in 2001.

The Outstanding Coalition Organization Award 2002 , 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 the Kansas Trial Lawyers Assocation. KTLA has provided leadership to the coalition as well as volunteers and funding to host bicycle safety and helmet distribution programs in Topeka, Hutchinson, and Salina. This year they will be hosting a program in Pittsburg. Previous recipients of this award include the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office (1996) , Salina SAFE KIDS Chapter (1997), Kansas Insurance Department (1998), Kansas Highway Patrol (2000), and State Farm Insurance Companies (2001).

Johnson County SAFE KIDS Coalition was the first recipient of the Local Coalition of the Year Award. The Johnson County Coalition excelled in bringing together varied and diverse members of the community to active participation in SAFE KIDS activities, hosted a wide variety of successful, creative injury prevention activities and demonstrated high volunteer participation in both local and state events.

Sherri Cannon, Lawrence, was presented with the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition Service Recognition Award for her leadership and support for the last seven years in the area of child passenger safety. Ms. Cannon has served as the child passenger safety specialist for the Coalition since the inception of the Buckle UP Program and coordinated the extensive training of the child passenger safety technicians and instructors for the coalition.

In addition to making the awards, the coalition elected four board members: Vanda Easley, State Farm Insurance Companies; Cindy Hermes, Capitol Area Firefighters Association; Elena Nuss, Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office; and Cindy Yelkin, Kansas Hospital Association. They join current board members Dennis Cooley, Kansas Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Ami Hyten, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association; and Rosanne Rutkowski, Kansas State Nurses Association.

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, Doniphan, Ford, Johnson, Marion, Montgomery, Osage, Pottawatomie, and Shawnee Counties, as well as Chanute, Hutchinson, Junction City, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Norton, Pittsburg, Salina, and Wichita. Kansas SAFE KIDS is part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.