03/30/2026
This year's conference was made possible with the support and sponsorship through Saint Francis Healthcare System, Impact 100 Perry County and the Youth Sales Tax Board.
We are beyond humbled for the amount of support that this community, the volunteers and many others give in making this Conference successful. It truly takes more collaboration than people realize to pull it all together. Last Friday, the 2026 DEFY-Jr/Sr Conference took place for High School Juniors and Seniors where information was shared about the dangers of distracted driving, driving under the influence and how the choices and outcomes of substance use plays into lives that are being altered. The theme was "525,600 Minutes-Make Every Minute Count." Fun minute-to-win-it games started the conference off, followed by a docudrama showing how one minute or one decision can quickly change a life. David Ochs with Air Evac 80 - Perryville, MO shared his experience on the side of answering calls to a scene and the importance of being proactive and awareness when getting behind the wheel. The conference was then concluded by our main speaker, Tony Hoffman, who shared his personal experience with life struggles, substance use and how destructive decisions changed his life. He encouraged the youth to look within themselves, think about their choices and take control of their lives.
We want to thank all of our volunteers which includes, but is not limited to the Perryville Fire Department, Perryville Police Department, Perry County MO Sheriff's Office and MC Sheriff Jason Klaus, Mercy Emergency Medical Services, Air Evac-80-Perryville, MO, Perry County Coroner Meghan Ellis, Perry County Towing, the Perry Park Center and staff, students and staff from St. Vincent High School, District 32, Saxony and the other numerous volunteers that made this possible. We couldn't have done it without you and you are appreciated more than you know! Together, we can create a change in culture.
