ATSSA Accomplishments Report 2018

Accomplishments Report 2018 19 The Foundation Foundation launches Marty Weed Engineering Scholarship Program to provide financial assistance for new engineers in honor of longstanding ATSSAmember TheFoundationcontinuestoworkwithExperience Camps to help children cope with loss Experience Camps Travel Scholarship program to cover round-trip travel expenses for eligible individuals The Foundation is continuing outreach efforts for its newest program, the Experience Camps Travel Scholarship program. The Foundation is working to send children who have lost a parent, sibling, or caregiver in a roadway work zone to a week-long camp. The camps help children to cope with grief caused by the loss of a loved one and build a support group of young individuals who are undergoing similar challenges. The Foundation covers round- trip travel expenses for children to attend these free summer camps and, according to The former Foundation President Tom Wood, is currently seeking eligible children to send to any of the five locations across the U.S. “The camps give children the opportunity to share their experiences with others who have suffered a similar loss,” Wood said. “The Foundation supporters and ATSSA members can be part of this too, by simply helping to identify a family who would benefit from such a healing andeverlasting experience.We encourage eligible applicants to apply by the July first deadline and to reach out to us with any questions.” “This program is more than an oppor- tunity for kids to go to camp. The big takeaways are the confidence builders and the ability for kids to come out of that week understanding more about the grief process and how they want to work through that,” Experience Camps Chief Program Officer Sam Green said. “It’s an experience we really want to provide for not just the camper but the family. While we offer the one week of camp, we’re also available as a year-round resource. We provide referrals, and we check in with our campers.” Contact The Foundation Manager Lori Diaz formore information about the 2019 Experience Camps Travel Scholarship program and the application, which can be obtained by emailing lori.diaz@atssa. com. The application deadline is July 1. To learnmore about Experience Camps, visit www.experience.camp. In 2018, The Foundation began devel- oping a scholarship program to honor Marty Weed, a longstanding member of ATSSA and an icon in the roadway safety infrastructure industry. Marty, who was a former Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) state work zone engineer, passed away on Dec. 13, 2018 after a long battle with brain cancer. He was highly involved in ATSSA activities and was the 2015 ATSSA National Safety Award recipient. “Marty is one of the top five roadway safety professionals I have met in my 20 plus years at ATSSA. Countless lives have been saved due to his dedication and professional expertise. He is a truemodel of what we need to move Toward Zero Deaths,” said ATSSA President & CEO Roger Wentz. The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance for new engineers to par ticipate in ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. Contributions are now being accepted through The Foundation online donor portal at foundation.atssa.com/Donate-Now. For more information about the scholar- ship, or how you can support The Foundation with planned giving through your estate, contact The Foundation Manager Lori Diaz at lori.diaz@atssa.com.