Volunteer Spotlight Reads:
Tonya was in a near fatal car crash with three other teenagers in 2005, two weeks after her high school graduation. They had been drinking into the late hours one night and then decided to take a drive. Her friend, who was driving, ran a stop sign across Highway 5 and at that exact moment, an 18-wheeler smashed into her door at 40 mph leaving her paralyzed. This June will mark the seventh anniversary of her car crash and the beginning of a grateful outlook on life.
She is twenty-four years old and lives in McKinney, Texas with her amazing parents and boyfriend of ten years. After seven years of attending Collin County Community College part-time, she finally obtained an Associate of Arts degree with emphasis in Liberal Arts last May. Now a student at the University of North Texas, her heart is set on pursuing a bachelor's and master's degree in Social Work. She always dreamed of obtaining a college degree and doing something great with her life. It will take a long time but she cannot think of a better way to live her life than by learning how she can serve and empower others.
After almost losing her life, suffering the difficult consequences of drinking and driving, and spending several years trying to make sense of it all, she received the revelation that she survived for a reason and was to share her experience with others. She is a committed volunteer for MADD because she stands for its mission, has personally witnessed how dangerous alcohol can be, and feels a spiritual calling to make a difference in as many lives as she possibly can. She started volunteering for MADD in 2009 and has served as an advocate at community fairs and a speaker to Collin County Adult and Teen Victim Impact Panels, Blue Ridge High School, Hebron High School, Ector High School and Middle School, Sam Houston High School, Collin County Community College, and Frisco Boys and Girls Club.
The rewards of volunteering with MADD are invaluable and have positively shaped her into the strong and determined leader she is today. Her volunteer experience has given her a voice and provided an avenue to make a lasting difference that can be seen, heard, and felt. She has not only learned the devastating effects of drunk driving and underage drinking but has made remarkable connections and friendships with other activists in the fight. Their voices are united in such a way that they are much more than just volunteers. They are a family that loves, provides, educates, and perseveres.
Thank you, Tonya for all your work and efforts to support our mission: to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. We appreciate you.
Thanks MADD for all you do!
Freer, Linda. "April Volunteer Newsletter." MADD. 5 April 2012. Wweb. 5 April 2012. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=oz4w7pcab&v=001euir7dY8GMWbxPH5n4fC0pG-HHf-QqbXShzTs9qdt1tZUgxrMQvR78gnaCWgZLSdDJCBnd4vc1cymEWW-UPasf7ONb7FCWS8980bEtJuh3JpuqLFjdceaXGPhFWZWsNGkd3IucVfQY9hT_l-62LVizmK2VKWAugc7YbDK1OshkW_FzVT8A_fmH-d2oOQcNRQvnZqTRlDvyMxUyf_MDKo-0yJZMfB3ews.
We are coming up on my brothers 1 yr ann because he died from alcohol addiction on May 5, 2011 and my sister passed away 7 months before him from prescription drugs and her husband also died 5 yrs before her. So my niece and nephew have no parents, I have no more siblings and my parents will never be the same losing 2 children. My mom has been hospitalized since Nov because of a breakdown. So I know too well how drugs and alcohol destroy lives. Hugs and prayers to you.
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