Family of drunk driving victim begins nonprofit, hosts International 1N3 Day
What: Balloon release at International 1N3 Day in memory of Kevin Yates
When: Aug. 1, 6 p.m.
Where: Buffalo Wild Wings, Hixson
The family of Kevin “Sunshine" Yates will host a balloon release on Aug. 1 in memory of Yates, who was killed by a drunk driver on that date last year.
Additionally, the Yates’ family has founded a nonprofit organization called 1N3, representing the statistic that one in three people are impacted by drunk driving.
The organization, headed by Tiki Finlayson, Kevin's mother, and Derek Yates, Kevin's brother, seeks to bring awareness to the tragedy that drinking and driving can cause and provide addiction recovery and grief support as well.
According to Crystal Yates-Richards, Kevin’s aunt, his family is seeking to make a worldwide change regarding the one in three statistic. To begin what she hopes will become a global campaign, she encourages everyone to attend the balloon release in Yates’ memory. There are currently 107 cities in 31 states signed up to participate in International 1N3 Day, as well as eight locations in other countries.
“Our family is not the only one impacted by an impaired driver,” Yates-Richards said. “If you are a parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or friend of a victim or an impaired driver, you are ‘1N3.’”
Yates was an organ donor, and according to his aunt, Rev. Melvin Ellis of Memphis, who received his heart, will be at the balloon release. Additionally, the family and friends of the drunk driver who killed Yates will be there.
The ceremony will be held at the Hixson Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 153 at 6 p.m.
For more information, call 423-710-8754 or 423-402-0163, or you can email events@iam1n3.org.
