Assemblyman Jim Tedisco hands out "good tickets" for free ice cream to kids wearing their bike helmets.
Assemblyman partners with Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, local police, ice cream shops to launch 2012 Safe Summer program to encourage bike/skate helmet safety
Exercise safely this summer and get free ice cream to beat the heat. That’s the goal of the innovative Safe Summer Bike Helmet program founded by Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga), who officially kicked off the 2012 program today.
Tedisco is once again partnering with police departments in Saratoga and Schenectady Counties to distribute “good tickets” for free ice cream to reward children who wear their helmets while bicycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading to use positive reinforcement to get all neighborhood kids into the habit of wearing their helmet for safe biking
The 2012 Safe Summer Program has a new twist: the law firm of Martin, Harding and Mazzotti LLP will donate hundreds of new bike helmets to local police departments to distribute to low-income children so they can have a fun and safe summer.
“It’s summer time and for many children that means two things: ice cream and bike riding. We want to encourage kids to exercise and I can’t think of a better way to do that than by offering them a free ice cream cone for doing the right thing and wearing a helmet. When you promise kids when they wear a bike helmet a free ice cream cone as our law enforcement do and then you couple that with a free helmet for children who can’t afford one, that permeates the neighborhood and gives an added incentive for kids to stay safe this summer,” said Tedisco.
“Martin, Harding and Mazzotti is excited to join Assemblyman Tedisco in this wonderful program,” said, Dan Dagostino, Attorney from Martin, Harding and Mazzotti, LLP. “Accidents and head traumas are extremely preventable and something as simple as a helmet can be the difference between a scrape, a bruise and a serious injury. We are happy to work with the Assemblyman and local police departments to ensure that children have bike helmets and have a fun and safe summer.”
The Safe Summer program, which is in its 15th year, is made possible thanks to donations from participating businesses Stewart’s Shops, Friendly’s and Ben & Jerry’s.
Participating police departments where kids can receive free ice cream coupons and bike helmets include: Saratoga County Sheriff, Schenectady County Sheriff, Glenville Police Department, Saratoga Springs Police Department, Ballston Spa Police Department, Scotia Police Department, Galway Police Department, Schenectady Police Department, Niskayuna Police Department and Rotterdam Police Department.
“This program is a true community partnership among businesses, law enforcement, government and parents and it’s a great model for how caring people can come together and promote a fun and safe environment for children. Safe Summer also provides positive interactions between law enforcement and kids,” said Tedisco.
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