Community Service Programs

Every 15 Minutes  |  Tree of Remembrance

Every 15 Minutes Alcohol Education Program

The Chico Unified School District, in conjunction with the California Highway Patrol and the Office of Traffic Safety, is taking a proactive step in educating local high school students about making mature decisions when alcoholic beverages are involved. 

The program’s name was conceived in 1990 when one alcohol-related traffic fatality occurred in the United States every fifteen minutes.

Every 15 Minutes is a two-day program that challenges high school juniors and seniors to think about drinking, driving, personal safety and the responsibility of making mature decisions when lives are involved.

Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home has been involved with and is a strong supporter of this program since its inception.

We are pleased to inform you that on March 31, 2010 and April 1, 2010 the "Every 15 Minutes" program will again be presented in partnership with California Highway Patrol, Chico Police Department, Chico Fire Department, Enloe Hospital, Newton-Bracewell Funeral Homes, and numerous other agencies and organizations on all CUSD high-school campuses. "Every 15 Minutes" is a two-day program originally developed by Chico Police Department in 1996 to help prevent alcohol-related incidents. The program focuses on 11th and 12th grade students, challenging them to think about drinking, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions. This program has won nationwide recognition and has been duplicated throughout the United States, and continues, thanks to a grant from the California Highway Patrol. 

Students selected from each school site will participate as the "living dead". As a casualty of an alcohol¬ related incident, every 15 minutes throughout the day, student participants will be removed from class by "the grim reaper" and made-up to be later reintroduced to their classes as a "living dead" victim. While the student is gone, a police officer and school counselor will read the "living dead" students' obituary to the class. Upon returning to class, the "living dead" student will continue on with their class schedule, but will not interact with others, as if "dead". An additional component of the program will include a staged, lunch¬time drunk driving traffic collision on each campus. 

At the end of day one, the "living dead" students will participate in an overnight retreat where they will participate in a number of activities including listening to guest speakers, letter writing to parents, and preparing for the school assembly the following day. A separate program for all parents in the community will take place that evening from 7 - 8:30 at Enloe Conference Center, 1528 Esplanade. 

On day two of the program, an assembly for 11th and 12th grade students and parents will take place on each high school campus. The assembly will feature presentations by various individuals including those from law enforcement, emergency response personnel, school staff, parents, and the students themselves. The overall message of the assembly will be - alcohol doesn't just hurt those who drink it - too often, the innocent are the victims. 

Tree of Remembrance

Join Us in December for
Our Annual Tree of Remembrance Service
to honor the lives and memories of those who have died.

Students from Chico Jr. High School Grief Group,
placing their ornaments on the tree.

It has been our privilege to serve you and your family this past year. The holidays are a difficult time for many who have lost a loved one. We invite you, your family and friends to attend our Tree of Remembrance Service in honor of those who have died and in support of those who grieve. 

This half-hour program will be held in December on the second Tuesday in the parking lot of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. A practical presentation on coping with holiday grief will be shared, a video showing the names of loved ones will play, candles will be lit, music and refreshments provided. Please join us for an evening of reflection and encouragement.

When you call the office at 342-9003 we will make an ornament bearing your loved one's name, which can be placed on the Christmas tree at the funeral home and then taken home after the service on the second Tuesday in December. The names will also be placed on the video that will be shown at the service. 

Dress warmly as we hold the service outside in front of the funeral home where the Christmas tree in the mausoleum is in full view.

We sincerely hope this opportunity will allow you to make the memory of someone you love a positive part of your holiday season. 

Sincerely,

The staff of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home 
and Newton-Bracewell Cremation and Funeral Services


RSVP 
530-342-9003 to have the ornament made and the name placed on the video.

You may also view and print the booklet, please click here for online copy
(Word format - Open to view online, Save to put copy on your computer)