KANSAS CITY, Mo., (Apr. 24, 2026) – The Research Foundation proudly announces that its injury prevention program, ThinkFirst of Greater Kansas City, has been recognized with a prestigious People Saving People Award from the Kansas Department of Transportation. The award honors the program’s dedicated Voices for Injury Prevention (VIP) speakers and moderators for their life-saving impact on youth and young drivers across the region.
The award was presented during the 2026 Transportation Safety Conference, held April 21–22 in Manhattan, Kansas. The recognition took place during the conference’s awards luncheon, celebrating individuals and organizations committed to improving roadway safety and saving lives. The People Saving People Award highlights the impressive efforts and achievements of a person or organization that has a positive effect on transportation safety behavior in Kansas. To be eligible, an individual or organization must have successfully resolved a transportation safety issue or situation within their organization or community.
“Without the courage and passion of our VIP speakers and moderators, this program would not have the impact it does today,” said Cynthia Randazzo, The Research Foundation president and CEO. “Their willingness to share deeply personal experiences helps young people truly understand the importance of making safe choices behind the wheel.”
Founded in 1987, ThinkFirst of Greater Kansas City has educated generations of young people throughout the Kansas City metro area, serving communities in both Kansas and Missouri. The program’s unique approach centers on its VIP speakers—individuals who have sustained life-altering brain or spinal cord injuries in crashes. Through powerful, firsthand testimonials, these speakers connect with audiences in a way that statistics alone cannot, sharing the decisions that led to their injuries and the lasting consequences that followed.
ThinkFirst delivers free, age-appropriate presentations for K–12 students that cover seatbelt use, helmet safety, pedestrian and bicycle awareness, and the dangers of distracted or impaired driving. During the 2024–2025 school year alone, nearly 16,000 students in the Greater Kansas City area participated.
The Research Foundation’s Young Traffic Offenders Program (YTOP), a court-ordered, four-hour program for high-risk drivers ages 15–24, also utilizes ThinkFirst speakers. YTOP provides a powerful, real-world look at the consequences of unsafe driving through interactions with health care providers, law enforcement, and crash survivors. In 2025, 897 young drivers completed the program.
The recognition comes at a critical time. According to Kansas Drive to Zero data, 1,379 crashes involving teen drivers occurred in Kansas in 2025, with more than 16% involving fatalities. Programs like ThinkFirst aim to reduce these numbers by equipping young drivers with the knowledge and perspective needed to make safer decisions.
The People Saving People Award highlights the lasting impact of ThinkFirst’s mission and the individuals who bring it to life. Many of the program’s presenters have dedicated years, often decades, to educating youth and advocating for safer communities.
For more information about ThinkFirst of Greater Kansas City or to schedule a program, visit theresearchfoundationkc.org/thinkfirst.
