About

Our History

Attorney Kurt Larson founded Safe and Sober Prom Night in Springfield Missouri in 2004. As a trial attorney, Kurt saw the devastation caused by drunk drivers. As a father of two teenagers Kurt also knew the peer pressure teens face when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Kurt was motivated to begin visiting schools and talking with teens. Visiting Springfield schools, Kurt would discuss the dangers of drug use and underage drinking. His hope was to make a difference in the lives of students before irreversible mistakes were made.

Since 2004, Safe and Sober has grown in size and in reach. What started in the five Springfield high schools with 748 participating students grew to a regional program. After several years, Safe and Sober began reaching 35 southwest Missouri high schools. It then grew into a statewide program. During the 2018-2019 school year the program was able to reach 506 Missouri high schools. This resulted in over 170,000 students experiencing the culture changing program.

Safe and Sober has expanded tremendously. Originally the program focused solely on high school seniors. The content revolved around educating these students and encouraging them to stay safe and sober at prom. Today, the program works year-round to educate middle/junior high students, high school students and parents. The pledge now encourages students to commit to a safe and sober lifestyle rather than one night.

Continued support from sponsors and the Missouri Department of Transportation enables Safe and Sober to continue to deliver life-saving education to the students of Missouri. These sponsors ensure that education is cutting edge, relevant and delivered in a way that is most conducive to learning.