KKAD25 Group

The Treynor KKAD25 group is made up of members of the JOI Club as well as local community members. The group is led by President Andyn White and adult sponsor Shelly Bailey serves as secretary/treasurer.  Community members include John Klein, Optimist member; Doug Wehring, Vision Treynor Group & City of Treynor Planning Board member; Judd Knispel, State Farm agent and parent; and Michael Holeton, City Administrator.  Lisa White rounds out the committee, being the founding member of this group after her son,Tristan died while running on a gravel road in November 2015. Her efforts to raise safety awareness were bolstered when she partnered with the Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 foundation led by Tom Everson of Omaha. With that partnership, grant applications were made to the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program, and twice the local group was awarded $25,000. During the first round, grant money was spent on promotional safety events, radar speed signs near each of the entrances into Treynor, street banners, yard signs and Mock Crash events in 2017 and 2023.  The last grant is earmarked for Tristan's Trail, which is an effort that is being coordinated with other local organizations, such as The City of Treynor, Vision Treynor Group, Dexter's Dream Playground, Treynor Splash Pad and the Treynor Recreation & Trail Board. The trailhead for Tristan's Trail will be located within VTG complex called "The T" surrounding the upcoming Dexter's Dream Playground and Treynor Splash Pad.

The group also raises funds for smaller safety projects. In past years, the group has held safety promotions at local sporting events, high school lunch-time stations, purchased Nathan's Sports running vests for the cross country runners, participated in the community Trunk or Treat event, and held a 5K in July 2022, 2023 and 2024.

During the 2022-23 school year, the group partnered with SAFE Iowa, which has similar ideas around safety promotion among teens. This organization is very popular in states like Kansas and is growing in Iowa.  Funds from companies such as Honda, AAA and State Farm help promote their message. This funding secured the Thinkfast Interactive workshop that was held at the high school on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Thank you for your past support of our local KKAD25 group. We will be busy again this upcoming school year promoting safety.