Kaitlin's Angel Run charity aims to save lives by raising awareness about teen-driver safety.

On November 5, 2003, Kaitlin Ashley Kazanjian, age 16, lost her life as the passenger in a vehicle being driven at excessive speeds. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. These deaths are preventable, and our charity aims to save lives by raising awareness about teen-driver safety. Getting behind the wheel is one of the most dangerous activities for teens, yet it's also something they do every day.

ix teenagers, ages 16-19, are killed every day due to speeding, texting and driving, failing to wear seat belts, driving drowsy, driving buzzed, and engaging in other dangerous habits. Let's raise awareness to keep our teens and our streets safe!

On January 1st, 2016, the Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association, Inc., (the “PBA”) the local police union, organized and hosted the inaugural Kaitlin’s Angel Run as a Safety Awareness Run/Walk Event. The first event was a 1.1-mile loop that included a fitness challenge for those interested. Over the last seven years, the event has grown, and it is now a full-fledged 5K run timed by AccuChip! The PBA takes pride in handling the entire event, and staff and volunteers work the run. We now host an event of about 200 runners, ready for an early morning full of fun, exercise, food, music, and prizes. Register

The event is named for and established in the memory of Kaitlin A. Kazanjian, who was only 16 years old when she was tragically killed in a car accident.  The event goals are not only to raise money for the charity, which provides educational scholarship funds of about $150,000 or more to the children of PBA members, but also to bring the dangers of distracted teen driving to the forefront. In today’s society, our children and young drivers face many distractions, including cell phone usage, smart cars, music, and texting, and they need to be aware of those dangers.