Create change for safer schools and communities. In April of 1989, over 200 students from West Charlotte Senior High School (NC) gathered at a party. A carload of young men from a rival school showed up armed and looking for trouble. As teens panicked, 17-year-old Alex Orange stepped forward. Alex, a fullback on the West Charlotte football team, was a young man who looked out for other people. Alex told the intruders this was no place for violence. Sadly, shots were fired and Alex fell to the floor. Surrounded by shaken friends and schoolmates, Alex lost his life to gun violence. The following week, students returned to school mourning yet another young life lost too soon to violence. Joining together in their grief, they vowed that something was going to change, and change for the better! The group formed Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE). In 2017, SAVE and Sandy Hook Promise combined efforts to collectively expand our reach and sustain our work on educating and empowering young people to help prevent gun violence (and other forms of violence and victimization) - BEFORE it happens. There are now thousands of SAVE Promise Clubs across the country. Add your voice to our efforts by forming a SAVE Promise Club at your school or youth organization. Engage, empower, encourage and educate your friends and peers to Know The Signs and create safer schools and communities.
