On January 30, the SafeLIGHT Foundation’s Teen Ambassadors hosted a series of town hall meetings with their peers at Southland College Prep Charter High School in Richton Park to discuss the risks and responsibilities associated with teen driving. Nine Southland students serve as Ambassadors for the program.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death for U.S. teens. Teen Ambassadors use their leadership skills to serve as safe driving ambassadors with their high school communities to promote and encourage responsible driving and use their creative skills to develop awareness campaigns for seasonal events such as National Teen Driver Safety Week.
“The Teen Ambassador program was created in response to the alarming rate of teen fatalities and injuries from traffic crashes,” said Nikki Zollar, Chair of the SafeLIGHT Foundation. “Because driver inexperience is a leading contributor to crashes and injuries for teen drivers, we partner with law enforcement professionals, schools and parents to help reinforce safe driving messages to prevent crashes and save lives.”
The SafeLIGHT Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting safe driving behavior through charitable giving to traffic safety programs and people and organizations that support responsible driving. Its Teen Ambassador program is sponsored by Donate Life Illinois and Gift of Hope. The program is also supported by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, which is a strong advocate of teen driver safety.
Applications are now being accepted for the SafeLIGHT Foundation’s 2025-26 Teen Ambassador Program. Members of the program use their leadership skills to serve as safe driving ambassadors with their high school communities to promote and encourage responsible driving. Teen Ambassadors who graduate from the program will earn college scholarships.
For more information about the program, including eligibility requirements, visit safelightfoundation.com/teen-ambassador-program