On April 1^st, the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), recent winner of the Inspiration in Prevention Award from Youth Crime Watch of America and The National Crime Prevention Council, held its 10th Annual Summit “SAVE: Erasing the Colors of Violence.” Close to 1,000 students, teachers, law enforcement officers, counselors, and community leaders from across the nation who run SAVE chapters in their schools and communities came together to help celebrate 17 years of SAVE and to share their ideas and accomplishments of the year.

Activities for the Summit included motivational workshops with interactive activities, a presentation by the nationally acclaimed Periwinkle Theatre “Halfway There: A True Story of Personal Triumphs Over Substance Use”, a magic show by Fish the Magish on Battling Bullies and a national service project effort. Workshop sessions were filled with both fun and educational information taught by SAVE members from across the country. This year the national service project involved SAVE chapter’s across the country collecting coloring books, crayons, markers and art supplies to be sent schools reopening in the Hurricane Katrina devastated areas.

The annual SAVE Summit is a rare and much anticipated opportunity for young people to speak with other young people and exchange ideas. SAVE students and advisors learn about successes of each other’s SAVE chapters, receive tips on how to make their chapter more effective, and how to influence other students at their school to be proactive and join SAVE. Exceptional SAVE chapters, students, and advisors who have been instrumental in promoting safety in their school and community were recognized at the Summit.

“SAVE’s vision is for all students to be able to attend schools that are safe and secure, free of fear, and conducive to learning. As more students join SAVE chapters all across the country, we are moving closer to making our vision for safer schools a reality” said Executive Director of SAVE, Dr. Pamela Riley.

Channing Shor, Chair of the National SAVE Youth Advisory Board says “Being involved with SAVE has motivated me to become a better person. Before, I was afraid to speak up in groups and public speaking, even in front of a class of thirty, would make me lose sleep. Now in groups, I’ve developed leadership skills and usually the first to get the work going, willing to compromise ideas to help better the project, knowing that there isn’t only one way to do something. SAVE has inspired me not only to be more confident, it has given me a way to make a difference in the lives of others.”

SAVE started at West Charlotte High School (N.C.) in 1989 following the tragic death of a student who was trying to break up a fight at an off-campus party. Students met first to console each other, then as an organization to promote violence prevention and to work together to prevent future incidents from occurring.

Currently, the National Association of SAVE is a student-run, student-initiated public non-profit violence prevention organization with over 1,600 chapters in 44 states with over 185,000 members in elementary, middle, high schools, colleges and communities nationwide. SAVE provides education about the effects and consequences of violence and helps provide safe activities for students, parents and communities.

SAVE has continued to grow nationwide due to support from its sponsors including the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, the Allstate Foundation, Hecht’s and the Crayola Erase It Fund Foundation.

For further information on the Summit or other SAVE activities, please visit www.nationalsave.org. Anyone interested in starting a SAVE chapter at their school can contact SAVE at 1-866-343-SAVE to receive free start-up materials and guidance.