Second Annual BeSafe Awards
Safety takes community
Safety takes community
| Clockwise from upper left: United Way 211 team with Andy Kosseff, MD, Chair, Falls Prevention Task Force of Safe Communities; HOPES volunteers and McFarland officials with William Greer, Executive Director, Mental Health Center of Dane County; Amigos en Azul with presenter J. B. Van Hollen, Attorney General, State of Wisconsin, Police Chief Noble Wray and Officer Stephanie Bradley Wilson; Lynn Hobbie, Senior Vice President, Madison Gas and Electric with presenter Arlene Silveira, President, Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education; Safe Communities board chair Kathryne McGowan; WISC-TV’s Neil Heinen, the luncheon’s emcee |
Be Safe Award for Leadership
Madison Gas and Electric
MGE was a founding member of Safe Communities, and participated in Madison's first Injury Prevention Conference - the event that launched our
coalition.
In addition to providing generous financial and in-kind support for community collaboration in the area of safety, MGE staff are hands-on providers of safety
education in Madison schools and at community events. Staff leadership in planning and teaching at Safety Saturday, Safety Town, Safety Sunday at Madison
Children’s Museum in addition to on-going provision of electrical safety education in schools are just a few examples of MGE's ongoing commitment to
community safety.
Be Safe Award for Collaboration
United Way 2-1-1
As a partner agency on Falls Prevention Task Force of Safe Communities, United Way 2-1-1 has created a one-of-its-kind Falls Prevention Helpline that links
older adults with their health care provider and with the local senior services agency in their community.
United Way 2-1-1 is the source for up-to-date information about falls prevention services, Staff members stepped up to the plate to provide this important service
quickly, efficiently, and never with a response that “other 211 programs don’t do this”.
Be Safe Award for Innovation
Amigos en Azul, Madison Police Department
Amigos en Azul (Friends in Blue) of Madison Police Department is a committed group of officers who have come together to build trust and promote safety
among members of Dane County's Latino community.
Amigos en Azul coordinates regular Car Clinics - events where Spanish speaking drivers have their children fitted for car seats, and have cars checked for
equipment violations. This work is so important, as traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for Latinos in the United States, surpassing all other
causes.
Amigos en Azul officers are active organizers and participants in Latino community events, including the recent Mexican Independence Day celebration,
El Dia de los Ninos (Day of the Child) celebration in April, and Latino Health Fair. Amigos en Azul embody the message that police officers are community
servants first and foremost.
Amigos en Azul officers are regular guests on LaMovida radio and contribute a Spanish-language Crime Stoppers column to La Communidad spanish
language newspaper.
Be Safe Award for Advocacy
HOPES and Community of McFarland
HOPES – Helping Others Prevent and Educate About Suicide – is a group of people who have survived the loss of a loved one and who volunteer their
time working to prevent suicide.
When HOPES co-founder Sue Opheim approached Safe Communities about a partnership, she came with this message of hope: 90% of suicides can be
prevented with community support and treatment.
McFarland residents Eric and Trudy Garland, after losing their son Brandon to suicide, became active in HOPES and mobilized that community. They
found committed and enthusiastic partners in McFarland’s school and faith communities. In addition to hosting an annual spaghetti dinner to raise financial
support and awareness, the McFarland community has embraced training and education in an ongoing effort to prevent suicide.
Madison Gas and Electric
MGE was a founding member of Safe Communities, and participated in Madison's first Injury Prevention Conference - the event that launched our
coalition.
In addition to providing generous financial and in-kind support for community collaboration in the area of safety, MGE staff are hands-on providers of safety
education in Madison schools and at community events. Staff leadership in planning and teaching at Safety Saturday, Safety Town, Safety Sunday at Madison
Children’s Museum in addition to on-going provision of electrical safety education in schools are just a few examples of MGE's ongoing commitment to
community safety.
Be Safe Award for Collaboration
United Way 2-1-1
As a partner agency on Falls Prevention Task Force of Safe Communities, United Way 2-1-1 has created a one-of-its-kind Falls Prevention Helpline that links
older adults with their health care provider and with the local senior services agency in their community.
United Way 2-1-1 is the source for up-to-date information about falls prevention services, Staff members stepped up to the plate to provide this important service
quickly, efficiently, and never with a response that “other 211 programs don’t do this”.
Be Safe Award for Innovation
Amigos en Azul, Madison Police Department
Amigos en Azul (Friends in Blue) of Madison Police Department is a committed group of officers who have come together to build trust and promote safety
among members of Dane County's Latino community.
Amigos en Azul coordinates regular Car Clinics - events where Spanish speaking drivers have their children fitted for car seats, and have cars checked for
equipment violations. This work is so important, as traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for Latinos in the United States, surpassing all other
causes.
Amigos en Azul officers are active organizers and participants in Latino community events, including the recent Mexican Independence Day celebration,
El Dia de los Ninos (Day of the Child) celebration in April, and Latino Health Fair. Amigos en Azul embody the message that police officers are community
servants first and foremost.
Amigos en Azul officers are regular guests on LaMovida radio and contribute a Spanish-language Crime Stoppers column to La Communidad spanish
language newspaper.
Be Safe Award for Advocacy
HOPES and Community of McFarland
HOPES – Helping Others Prevent and Educate About Suicide – is a group of people who have survived the loss of a loved one and who volunteer their
time working to prevent suicide.
When HOPES co-founder Sue Opheim approached Safe Communities about a partnership, she came with this message of hope: 90% of suicides can be
prevented with community support and treatment.
McFarland residents Eric and Trudy Garland, after losing their son Brandon to suicide, became active in HOPES and mobilized that community. They
found committed and enthusiastic partners in McFarland’s school and faith communities. In addition to hosting an annual spaghetti dinner to raise financial
support and awareness, the McFarland community has embraced training and education in an ongoing effort to prevent suicide.
By Jonathan Gramling
With a little thought and a lot of precaution and
information, a lot of needless deaths can be prevented each
year in Madison and Dane County. Since 1999, the Safe
Communities Coalition with 350 members has been working
to coordinate safety resources to prevent needless injuries
and deaths. Through the efforts of the coalition and its
members, there has been a four percent increase in safety
belt use in rural Dane County, 50 pedestrian flag sites have
been set up in Dane County and its Slow Down Campaign
was recognized by Parent’s Magazine.
On October 7, the Safe Communities Coalition held its
second annual Be Safe awards luncheon at Inn on the Park.
Four organizations were recognized for their prevention
efforts:
With a little thought and a lot of precaution and
information, a lot of needless deaths can be prevented each
year in Madison and Dane County. Since 1999, the Safe
Communities Coalition with 350 members has been working
to coordinate safety resources to prevent needless injuries
and deaths. Through the efforts of the coalition and its
members, there has been a four percent increase in safety
belt use in rural Dane County, 50 pedestrian flag sites have
been set up in Dane County and its Slow Down Campaign
was recognized by Parent’s Magazine.
On October 7, the Safe Communities Coalition held its
second annual Be Safe awards luncheon at Inn on the Park.
Four organizations were recognized for their prevention
efforts: