Join Our Cause

If you would like to partner with YOVASO on youth traffic safety initiatives or make a donation to our programs, please contact Mary King at mary.king@vsp.virginia.gov or by phone at 804-461-0396.

Sponsors

Virginia State Police

YOVASO is a program of the Virginia State Police (VSP) and has been part of the department since October 1, 2014. The partnership has enabled YOVASO to expand statewide to reach more high schools, middle schools, and youth groups. It also provides a unique opportunity to build positive relationships between law enforcement and youth. Troopers engage with students during the Summer Leadership Retreat and through our interactive programs including the Distracted/Impaired Driving Simulators and ScanEd. YOVASO is proud to be a program of the Virginia State Police and our partnership to help Virginia's teens make good choices on the roads.

Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has funded the YOVASO program through federal highway safety grants since the program’s inception in 2001. As a DMV grantee, YOVASO has access to the expertise and resources of the DMV and is monitored and evaluated annually by the state. YOVASO is endorsed by DMV and is the Commonwealth’s only Peer-to-Peer Education and Leadership Program for Teen Driver Safety.

Partners

Although YOVASO is sponsored by the Virginia State Police and grant-funded by the Virginia DMV, our program relies heavily on donations and support from outside sources to help fund many of our safe driving initiatives for teens. Through these partnerships, YOVASO is able to expand services to our peer-to-peer programs and have a greater impact on the safety of our youth.

State Farm has supported YOVASO since 2016 through grant funding and sponsorship of a variety of youth traffic safety initiatives. In addition, State Farm agents and corporate staff provide volunteer assistance and presentations for YOVASO educational programs and leadership retreats. Annual grants received from State Farm fund new educational materials, incentive items, and prizes for YOVASO safety campaigns; and support innovative training programs for the Summer Leadership Retreat. State Farm has also been instrumental in funding the purchase of low speed simulators, trailers, and other equipment for our statewide Distracted/Impaired Driving Simulator program; and computer equipment and materials for the ScanEd Physics of a Crash program. This ongoing support helped establish the TeamUp for Teen Traffic Safety program in 2019, which is a collaboration between YOVASO, VSP, State Farm, AAA MidAtlantic, and MADD. TeamUp provides schools and communities with a variety of interactive programs for youth designed to teach them the risks they face in a motor vehicle and how to reduce those risks. YOVASO is fortunate to have the support of State Farm in helping to achieve our mission.

The Blue Ridge Transportation Safety Board (BRTSB) founded the YOVASO program in 2001 in response to the increasing number of teens killed in Virginia and its dedication to youth and young drivers. The organization and its affiliate, the Blue Ridge Regional Crash Investigation Team, continue to support YOVASO and provide a wealth of expertise and resources for the program. BRTSB was founded in 1988 and is composed of traffic safety advocates from both the public and private sector who serve the specific and direct traffic safety needs of Central and Southwestern Virginia.

The Bedford Community Health Foundation has been a proud supporter of YOVASO for many years. In 2015, the Foundation became the fiduciary agent for YOVASO and its Advisory Board. Dedicated to supporting healthcare needs for Bedford residents, the Foundation was excited to partner with YOVASO in this aspect as all Bedford high and middle schools have active YOVASO programs. YOVASO is grateful for this partnership and the opportunities it has made possible for the organization.