Louisiana Sonic Group Donates Funds for Child Safety Seats to Local Communities

With motor vehicle injuries being the leading cause of death among children under the age of 14 in Louisiana, Kergan Bros. Sonic has raised $48,000 for the purchase of nearly 1,000 child safety car seats for Louisiana families in need.

In New Orleans, SONIC representatives will present a check to University Medical Center New Orleans’ Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force for the purchase of car seats at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at University Medical Center New Orleans, 2000 Canal St., in the courtyard near the Galvez Street entrance. At the event, five pre-selected families will be among the first to receive car seats. Safety Task Force members will then install the seats.

Families in need throughout the state can sign up for free seats at http://www.umcno.org/injuryprevention. The Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force, run by the University Medical Center New Orleans Level 1 Trauma Program, will then purchase and distribute the child safety seats based on family needs.

Kergan Bros. Sonic raised $48,000 through the sale of 2016 Sonic “Tot” calendars sold at 54 restaurant locations in the state.

“We realize many families cannot afford car seats for their children,” said Ted Kergan, owner of the Kergan Bros. Sonic group. “Through the generosity of our customers, we’ve made it our mission to keep kids safe in the car.”

“This is the first approach we have seen by a private company to contribute child safety seats to those in need,” said Bridget Gardner, RN, community injury prevention program coordinator at University Medical Center New Orleans. “When used correctly, child restraints are the No. 1 factor in reducing serious injuries and death in motor vehicle crashes. This partnership provides an avenue to prevent the injuries that we see far too often in the Level 1 Trauma Center.”