As 2008 ends, Safe America thanked Campbell's Soup and its CEO Doug Conant (seen in photo at right with Safe America CEO Len Pagano) for providing $150,000 to improve youth safety. Since 2005, Campbell's was the primary sponsor of the ‘Safest Kid in America’ contest. Through Mr. Conant's efforts and those of Campbell's executive Terry Atkins, Safe America expanded its 10-year-old youth contest...reaching more than 50,000 youth across America. Winners over the past five years include youth in states such as Arizona, California, Georgia, North Dakota, and Washington, DC, who have achieved amazing things in the field of safety. "People have heard of the 'Campbell's Kids' for years, but thanks to Doug, Terry and others, we have a new generation of Campbell's Kids - ones who will have life-long habits that will keep them safe," observed Pagano. "We're grateful for Campbell's support... which has opened the door to our working with thousands of schools nationally through its "Labels for Education" program.

We look forward to working with Campbell's and letting parents and kids know that just as soup is a 'safe and reliable' staple food, so are habits such as buckling up in the car." Seen below are some of the winning entries...

Students or schools wishing to enter the 2009 contest are invited to contact Sue Welty at sue.welty@safeamerica.org. Video entries are now being gathered. Entrants may show a 2-5 minute video on a safety topic of their choosing. A new category - focused on being 'prepared, not scared(TM)' for any emergency - has been added to 2009. Those wishing to enter this category should produce a :30 second TV spot. The winning entry - selected in early April - will be posted nationally on You Tube.

"Safest Kid" becomes College Standout
One such winner, Niko Milonopoulos, whose entry ten years ago was focused on gun violence, is now a senior at Stanford University. In 1998, he co-founded Kidz Voice-LA, dedicated to lobbying violence prevention legislation at the local, state and federal levels. Niko has been instrumental in passing legislation banning the sale of .50–caliber sniper rifles, a resolution supporting the renewal of the federal assault weapons ban in Los Angeles, and an ordinance requiring gun safety warnings in gun stores. In addition, he has worked as a US Congressional Page and an intern in the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"We appreciate the great good that Campbell’s has helped Safe America engineer," said Safe America Chairman Gary Grube. “We are proud to have involved more than 100,000 youth in safety programming that will stay with them forever.”

Through its relationship with Campbell’s, Safe America engaged the national PTA, which is currently studying ways to expand this program with their 2,600 chapters. Safe America also is working with local groups such as Boys and Girls Clubs to help bring new ‘safe behavior’ into schools, playgrounds and gyms.

To sponsor a local program or state contest, please contact Deborah Lareau, EVP National Programming for the Safe America Foundation, at 770-973-7233(SAFE) or deborah.lareau@safeamerica.org.