Introduction    History    Program    Information    Sponsorship    Schedule

Our Mission is to bring the sight, sounds, and smell of a fatal vehicle accident to high school students in a dramatic way in hopes of embedding the consequences of these sometimes senseless events into the minds of teenage drivers. 

Our Program is delivered by volunteers from local fire, EMS, police, and state highway patrol agencies as well as individuals from other organizations.  There is no cost to the hosting school.  Programs are usually scheduled in the spring and fall near prom and homecoming events.  Once the hosting school commits, the VIP provides handout material for the students to take home including a contract for life that they sign and return to school.  A week before the program the VIP places an automobile that two students lost their life in at the front entrance of the school as a visible testimony from the victims families. 

The program itself consists of two sessions.  The Morning session, which lasts about an hour, brings students to the auditorium where they hear speakers from emergency services and parents of teenage accident victims talk about their experiences.  The students then view two video presentations and statistics on accidents involving teenage drivers.  The presentation is direct from the real world, graphic, and true.  It is not just about driving while impaired and speeding, but mostly about avoiding distractions that capture the attention of these new drivers for the few seconds that it takes to cause an accident.   The morning session lasts approximately one hour.

The afternoon session lasts about 30 minutes, assembles students on bleachers outside to observe a reinactment of a fatal automobile accident.  Once assembled, a covering is removed revealing a smoking auto with a teen driver slumped over the steering wheel.  A jogger runs by the accident.  Over the speakers, the students hear his call to 911, followed by the dispatch of police, fire, and ambulance units.  Units arrive and find the patient pinned in the vehicle and begin cutting the door and roof off to get the patient out.  Once out, rescuers perform CPR as the teens mom and dad  arrive.  The rescuers efforts are unsuccessful and the patient is loaded into the ambulance and sent to the hospital.  The students are dismissed and return to class.

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The History of the VIP for a VIP program is relatively short and the program has not changed much during this time. But we believe the local teen accident statistics are a few less than they would have been.   The program was conceived in 1998 when off-duty firefighter Steve Zimmerman and Larry Cockman, came upon a vehicle accident that had just occurred involving two teens who had decided to skip school that day.  The driver had lost control of the vehicle and struck a bridge column, ejecting the driver from the vehicle, which came to rest on top of her taking her life.  In the days following the accident, Steve and Larry struggled with this senseless loss and purposed to develop a program to educate teens by bringing the reality of what they saw that day to the doorstep of high schools in the area.  The first VIP for a VIP program was delivered in the spring of 1998, and every spring and fall since that time. To date 21 programs have been delivered reaching over 10,000 teenagers.

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For more Information about the VIP for a VIP program, please call Steve Zimmerman at (336) 508-3781 or email Steve at steve@vipforavip.com.

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The following Sponsors and Supporters have been instrumental in the success of the VIP for a VIP Program.  While volunteers provide the manpower for events, there remains a substantial need for audio-visual, props, printing, and other equipment that we currently borrow for events.  For Sponsorship information call Kelly Grooms at (336) 687-5654 or email Kelly at groomskelly@aol.com .

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Scheduled Events

6/7/08      Display at Public Safety Day, Home Depot, Greensboro, NC.

7/14-18/08 Presentation at the NC School resource Officers annual Conference, Sunset Beach NC.

8/5/08      Display at National Night Out, Lexington, NC.

9/13/08    Interactive Display at the Bush Hill Festival, Hwy 62/311, Archdale NC.

10/1/08    VIP for a VIP Program, Northeast Guilford High School, 6700 McLeansville Rd, McLeansville NC, 336-375-2500.  Rain date 10/2/08.

10/15/08  Planning session, West Caldwell High School, 300 W. Caldwell Dr, Lenoir, NC, 828-758-5583.

10/22/08  VIP for a VIP Program, Western Guilford High School, 409 Friendway Rd, Greensboro NC, 336-316-5800.  Rain date 10/23/08.

10/27/08   Interactive Display at the Youth First Teen Summit 2008, Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W. Lee St, Greensboro, NC.

2007-2008 School Year Schedule (Completed)

9/12/07   VIP for a VIP program at UNC-Greensboro..

10/22/07 Planning meeting at Station 24 for Southern Guilford High School program.

10/23/07 VIP for a VIP program at Southern Guilford High School, 5700 Drake Rd, Greensboro, NC 336-674-4250. Rain Date October 24, 2007

10/25/07 Presentation for the NC Association of Fire Chiefs/Chief Officer Executive Development Program at the Charlotte Fire Department Training Center

10/30/07  Presentation for the Greensboro Rotary Club at Starmount Country Club.

11/7/07   VIP for a VIP program at Trinity High School, 5746 Trinity High School Dr, Trinity NC, 336-861-8613.  Rain date November 8, 2007.

11/20/07 Participant in the City of High Point Christmas parade.

11/28/07 Presentation for East Greensboro Rotary Club at Bennett College.

12/6/07   Presentation for Asheville Fire Department administration staff.

2/1/08     Presentation at the NC Association of Fire Chiefs, Atlantic Beach, NC

2/5/08     Train-the-trainer program at the NC Fire & Life Safety Annual Meeting, Pinehurst, NC.

2/6/08     Sponsorship meeting with the United Way of Greensboro.

2/25/08   Planning meeting for Central Davidson VIP program at Lexington Fire Department 1900 hrs.

3/6/08     Planning meeting for Westchester Academy at Hasty Fire Department 1900 hrs.

3/14/08   VIP for a VIP Program, Trinity High School, 5746 Trinity High School Dr, Trinity NC, 336-861-8613.  Rain date   3/13/08, 10:00 am.

3/27/08  VIP for a VIP Program, Central Davidson High School, 2747 NC Hwy 47, Lexington NC, 336-357-2920.  Rain date 3/28/08.

3/31/08   Planning meeting for Thomasville High School at the Thomasville Fire Department 1800 hrs.

4/1/08    VIP for a VIP Program, Ragsdale High School, 602 High Point Rd, Jamestown NC, 336-454-6767.  Rain date 4/2/08, 9:45 am.

4/8/08     VIP for a VIP Program, Westchester Academy, 204 Pine Tree Ln, High Point NC, 336-869-2128.  Rain date 4/9/08

4/11/08   Planning meeting for Asheville High at Asheville Fire Department 1900 hrs.

4/11/08   Presentation at the NC Governors Highway Safety Day, Raleigh, NC.

4/14/08   VIP for a VIP Program, Southwest Guilford High School, 4364 Barrow Rd, High Point, NC, 336-819-2970.  Rain date   4/15/08, 10:00 am.

4/16/08   VIP for a VIP Program, Western Alamance High School, 1731 North NC87, Elon NC, 336-538-6020.  Rain date 4/17/08.

4/23/08   VIP for a VIP Program, Thomasville High School, 400 Turner St, Thomasville NC, 336-474-4200.  Rain date 4/24/08.

4/28/08   VIP for a VIP Program, High Point Central High School, 801 Ferndale Blvd, High Point NC, 336-819-2825.  Rain date 4/29/08

5/5/08      VIP for a VIP Program, Asheville High School, 419 McDowell St, Asheville NC, 828-350-2500.  Rain date 5/6/08.

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Contract for Life from the VIP for a VIP handout      

I________________________, promise to obey all traffic laws, and wear available lap and shoulder restraints at all times, when operating, or riding, in a motor vehicle. Further, I will not operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications that may alter my ability to drive safely. I will not ride in a motor vehicle with anyone who is impaired by drugs or alcohol. I understand that this is a "Zero Tolerance" agreement (no amount of alcohol or drugs will be tolerated regardless of how small). I agree to limit passengers in my car to a number established by my parent(s) or guardian(s). Additionally, I will call my parents for transportation if I cannot drive safely, or if I am not safe riding with another driver.

 Signature______________________                         Date___/___/___

I,______________________________ the parent/guardian of_______________________________ promise to abide by the provisions of the above agreement also. Additionally, I will set a good example when operating a motor vehicle. I agree to provide transportation at any time. I promise to ensure your safety by revoking your driving privileges if you violate this agreement.

 Signature______________________                          Date___/___/___

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Mobile Bleacher units