State Farm Insurance Companies recently awarded at $5,000 grant to the Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County, or IDIPIC, for the fifth consecutive year.

According to a news release, the funds will be used to help cover the costs associated with IDIPIC’s prevention work with youth in schools and at impact panels.

“We can’t thank State Farm enough for its longtime support of our efforts,” said Mike Diamanti, IDIPIC director. “As a Partner in Prevention, this support has helped IDIPIC to better safeguard our community, which benefits us all by influencing youth to make the right choices about alcohol and other drug use and ultimately not to DUI, with the potential of saving lives.”

Diamanti added that, since IDIPIC began its youth programs, there has been an overall decrease in substance abuse among Whidbey Island teens.

All Whidbey driver education students are required to attend an impact panel with their parent or guardian. Students not enrolled in driver education schools are also welcome to attend the panels.

Of the 32,000 individuals who have attended IDIPIC DUI/underage drinking prevention panels throughout the years, over one-third have been driver education students and their guardians or parents.

IDIPIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2000 by community members dedicated to the mission of deterring driving under the influence and underage drinking through education and awareness.

For information on IDIPIC, visit www.idipic.org