BEND, OR -- Oregon's special child abuse awareness license plate is at risk of being discontinued if more aren't sold by Friday, October 31. State Representative Gene Whisnant was closely involved in the creation of the "Keep Kids Safe" license plate campaign when the program began 2 years ago. "Did you know we used COCC and OSU Cascades? They helped us design the plate and figure out the marketing campaign for it," he said.
Drivers pay an additional $30 registration fee every two years to have the "Keep Kids Safe" plate, money that benefits the Children's Trust Fund of Oregon and child abuse awareness and prevention programs. Whisnant says it's a cause well worth the money. "I'm sorry we have this issue, but we do. And this plate helps people be aware of it and provides a little bit of money to help those agencies that are serving those children who have been abused."
500 plates must be sold by close of business on Friday for the program to continue. Whisnant says they are nearly 100 shy of that goal. A year ago, organizers met the minimum only after Lithia Motors agreed to put the plates on a handful of their new dealership cars.
