IVETTE CHAIDEZ

In July 2012, Ivette Chaidez of Hanford, California established Buckle Up For Itzy in memory of her younger sister of Itzayana “Itzy” Chaidez, tragically killed on Sept. 2, 2011 in a car accident in which she was not wearing her seat belt.

Through Buckle Up For Itzy, Chaidez has dedicated herself to raising seatbelt safety awareness by holding safety fairs, speaking to high school students, and establishing the Buckle Up For Itzy scholarship fund for graduating high school seniors in California’s Kings County who wish to pursue a career in the medical field.