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Page High senior Kelsey Riggs was one of the first in line to sign the Safe Sober Prom Promise on a recent lunch break.

A project of Safe Sober Prom Night, a nonprofit founded in 1991 by attorneys Michael Lewis and David Daggett , the pledge says that signers will not drink and drive or take drugs on prom night.

“I’ve worked so hard to graduate,” Riggs said. “I want to make it to that.”

Senior Talia Roach , who signed the pledge for the second year, agreed.

“I remember when I was a student at Dudley and a wrecked car in which some teenagers were killed was brought to our school,” Roach said. “That made an impression on me.”

Page prom adviser Kendra Davis said she believes signing the pledge shows teenagers they can have a good time without drinking.

“It makes them aware, too, that we care, and we want them to care about themselves and be safe and responsible young adults,” Davis said.

Run by Lewis and Daggett Attorneys at Law , the program was started in an effort to reduce the growing number of alcohol- and drug-related accidents and deaths that were occurring.

With modest community support its first year, the program set up pledge booths in shopping center parking lots in Winston-Salem. As word spread, representatives started visiting schools. This year, Safe Sober Prom Night is sending teams to 38 high schools in 10 North Carolina counties, including Page, Dudley, Smith, Northeast and Northwest high schools in Guilford County . The teams also visit some private schools.

Students who sign the pledge receive a free Safe Sober T-shirt.

Page junior Reece Jennings said one of the main reasons he signed the pledge was for the free shirt but said he also wants to be a good representative of his school.

“I want to be the best I can be,” he said.

Senior Michael Rucker doesn’t believe in drinking or smoking, prom or not.

“By signing this pledge, we’re saving others’ lives, as well as our own,” he said.

The law firm also sends representatives to speak at PTA meetings, and Bob Anastas , founder of Students Against Drunk Driving , spoke at several schools for this year’s campaign.

To date, more than 400,000 have signed the pledge.
“It is very hard to know if we are making a difference in the kids’ lives; however, more and more kids are glad we do this, and we still see some T-shirts that go back 19 years on the back of older adults,” said Donald Smith with Lewis and Daggett community affairs . “This is one way we can help folks understand that we’re not just a taker in this market but also a giver, and we really try to keep kids from drinking and driving and using drugs.”

Attorney Mike Lewis not only sees Safe Sober Prom Night as a program against drugs and alcohol but an avenue for his firm to have a positive and influencing impact on teens.

“Many students really don’t need a lot to be influenced,” Lewis said. “Positive messages to our youth ensure the quality of our community for years to come.”

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer.brown@news-record.com.