WAXAHACHIE – Union Pacific Foundation recently provided a $5,000 donation to Drug Prevention Resources to bring awareness to the number of youth accidents and fatalities on farm-to-market roads in Ellis County.

    Our Drugged or Distracted Driving Project is a public awareness and education program provided by DPR’s IMPACT Communities Coalition Coordinators, according to Josie Prachyl, director of Prevention Programs.

    “Recent community data shows an increase in DWI rates and serious accidents on county roads as a result of drugged or distracted driving,” Prachyl said.

    “We saw this spike as an opportunity to educate students about the dangers and consequences of drugged or distracted driving; and provide them with the power to make positive/defensive driving choices.”

    The IMPACT Communities program, funded by Union Pacific, includes a pedal kart and goggle kit that are taken to schools to simulate delayed motor skill reactions when a student’s driving is impaired or distracted.

    “The DPR board and staff are incredibly grateful to the Union Pacific Foundation for providing this opportunity to affect change in youth driving behaviors in Ellis County,” said Becky Vance, CEO.

    “Everything we do and have done in our 84-year history is for the health and well-being of children and their families. Having a local partner like Union Pacific is a huge plus for Ellis County.”

    DPR is Texas’ oldest non-profit agency focused on preventing substance use disorders among children and teens.

    The organization operates six IMPACT Coalitions, community volunteers who work together to provide public education, public policy strategies to prevent youth substance use disorder, and build healthy drug-free communities.

    Visit drugfreegeneration.org .