ATSSA The Signal Nov/Dec 2019

29 The Foundation The Signal | November/December 2019 Individuals wishing to donate to The ATSS Foundation, a nonprofit that assists loved ones of work zone work- ers and educates the public about road- way safety, have another option when shopping online—AmazonSmile. It’s that simple—with your participation, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the price of eligible purchases to The ATSS Foundation. Those with Amazon accounts can visit Amazon Smile (smile.amazon.com/ch/ 62-1384292) . After logging into your regu- lar Amazon account, The ATSS Founda- tion will be set as the default donation organization. “I think this is a great program. I use it now every time I placemy order,” saidMichael Hare, member of The ATSS Foundation Board of Directors. “Of course, there’s a lot of Christmas presents bought through the AmazonSmile website.” Hareencourageseveryone tobuy through AmazonSmile, andadded, “Be sure to sign up for AmazonSmile before CyberMon- day. It would make a huge difference to our overall program.” Asof August 2019, $640hadbeendonated to TheATSS Foundation throughAmazon- Smile, according to Hare. “Six hundred and forty dollars is six hundred and forty dollars that The Foun- dation would not have received if we hadn’t partnered with Amazon,” he said. Debra Ricker, member of The ATSS Foun- dation Board of Directors, considers herself “a big Amazon shopper.” “It takes twominutes tosignuponAmazon- Smile,” Ricker said, adding it’s a great way to give and “it doesn’t cost you a dime.” Another great opportunity to give to The ATSS Foundation is on Giving Tues- day. Recognized on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people are encouraged to give back to charities and causes they believe in. This year, Giving Tuesday is December 3. Regarding#GivingTuesday, Ricker encour- agedparticipation in thepublic awareness campaign. “Think of TheATSS Foundation when it’s Giving Tuesday time,” she said. Craig Schulz, member of The ATSS Foundation Board of Directors, high- lighted programs supported through the donations. “Any of the money that goes back to The Foundation is going to scholarships for children or dependents who have lost a family member in work zones, whether it be through scholarship dollars for university or higher educationor through Experience Camps,” he said. The ATSS Foundation programs offers a lot of different ways to lend support. The Roadway Memorial Scholarship Program provides financial assistance for post-high school education to chil- dren and spouses of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in road- way work zones. The Marty Weed Engi- neering Scholarship provides funding to new engineers who are employed by a public agency to attend ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, giving them the opportunity to strengthen their disci- pline skills and network with hundreds of national and international leaders in the industry. Travel scholarships are available to children and a guardian to attend Experience Camps where they can work through the grief of losing a loved one in a work zone. Ricker, president of Worksafe Traffic Control Industries Inc., talked humbly about The Foundation’s role in the road- way safety infrastructure industry. She planned to introduce The ATSS Founda- tion’s programs to a family who’s loved one was killed in a roadway work zone. “The family is really grieving,” she stated, stressing the importance of The ATSS Foundation. “It’s howwe as an industry can give back. It’s just such an amazing way to help a little bit with families that lose loved ones.”  To donate or learn more about The ATSS Founda- tion and its programs visit Foundation.ATSSA.com . Make a difference, give to The ATSS Foundation Programs for families of injured or fallen roadway workers benefit from AmazonSmile and #GivingTuesday donations Any of the money that goes back to The Foundation is going to scholarships for children or dependents who have lost a family member in work zones.