Balancing reality with ideals, the Tri-County Medical Alliance inaugurated the Healthy Prom Night program this season, pairing reduced cab fares with prom goers to prevent drinking and driving.
Using area florists as the delivery vehicle, alliance members printed up 1,800 coupons that will be included with every corsages and boutonnieres sold at nine Traverse City florists. Fifty cards were also sent to Kingsley florists.
Exhorting recipients not to drink and drive, the coupon offers 50 percent off of a taxi ride home from the prom, courtesy of the TC Cab Co. The phone number of the cab company is prominently displayed.
"Even if just one person uses it we'll be happy,” said Kim Beattie, co-chair of health promotions for the alliance. "The florists gave me an estimate of how many cards they figured were going out.”
Alliance president Karin Chung heard about the program while at a national conference in Chicago last October. She liked the idea pioneered by another chapter and proposed that the Tri-County group try it this spring. Trying to think of angles kids might take advantage of, the offer is good only for a ride home, not for rides from party to party.
With St. Francis High School's prom last weekend, Central High School's prom this Saturday and West High School's prom scheduled for the 26th, Healthy Prom Night is a timely outreach.
"It's a great idea to reach out to kids,” Chung said of the program. "I mean, ideally we would like them to abstain from drinking but unfortunately the reality is that some kids do drink and we would like to minimize any negative thing that can come out of that.”
When they contacted area florists, Beattie noted that there was a 100 percent, immediate "Yes” response, despite adding an extra task for businesses during an already busy season.
"We just want to encourage that if children are going to take part in anything, they are safe,” said Traver Teboe, owner of Teboe Florist.
As for TC Cab, president Rick Bedell joined onboard right away, devising a formula where their contract drivers still receive their fee while the company donates its half of each fare. For a company that does 50 percent of their nighttime business transporting people from bars and other establishments, they are familiar with the effects of alcohol on drivers.
"When the ladies called I just thought it was a great idea to keep everyone safe and happy and do our part to make it a safe event,” said Bedell, who acknowledged his sister, Jill, the company's operations manager with spearheading the program.
Covering Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, the Tri-County Medical Alliance is a spouses group for area physicians. With about 40 members, the chapter is affiliated with both state and national Medical Alliances, which is affiliated with the American Medical Association.
The alliance has three main missions: health care issues in communities, scholarships in health care education and political issues that affect medicine. Other local efforts included a fund-raiser for Munson's breast health imaging center, a drive to donate personal care items to the Goodwill Inn and a spring luncheon that raises money for children's immunizations.
"We're not just a bunch of pampered doctor's wives who are getting together to have a club,” said Chung, noting that the group has a few male spouses as well. "We want to make a difference in the community.”