By Kimberly Paulk, SHARECharlotte.com, a free, easy and local website that makes it easy to learn about and engage with our local nonprofits.
Baseball is like driving, it’s the one who gets home safely that counts. ~Tommy Lasorda
As my son approaches his teens, I’ve started worrying about the prospect of him behind a steering wheel. I have a few years before that becomes a reality, but I can’t help but think about the fact that every year more than 5,000 teens lose their lives in traffic accidents.
As a mom, I’m grateful for B.R.A.K.E.S. – a Charlotte-based nonprofit Teen Pro-Active Driving School with a focus on kids 15-19 years of age. B.R.A.K.E.S. stands for Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe. At the school, teen drivers learn about things like accident avoidance and off road recovery. There’s also a distraction exercise designed to demonstrate just how dangerous cell phones, text messaging, music, traffic, and friends in the car can be.
The school is a labor of love, started by NHRA drag racing star Doug Herbert after he lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a tragic car accident in January of 2008. There are many ways to get involved, both by taking the course and through volunteering. Check out the opportunities below, and visit SHARE Charlotte for more info.
Help at Events – Help set up for event by preparing class materials and goody bags. During the event, reset cones for outside driving courses.
Office support – Help with phone calls, paperwork and data entry.
Internship – BRAKES is looking for an intern to help with web design, event planning and office support.
