Family Turns Tragedy Into a Way to Save Lives
“I never thought drunk driving would impact me,” said Eddie Varela. “I used to be one of those people that thought, ‘it will never happen to me.’ But guess what? It did. I lost my son.”
14-year-old Jonathon Michael Varela (nicknamed Jon Boy), was killed on April 28, 1996, when he was struck by a drunk driver. That’s the day the Varelas, Eddie and Nikki, learned that these things don’t just happen to other people.
“After Jon’s death, I wanted to make a difference,” said Eddie Varela. “We didn’t know where to start, but every 31 minutes, someone is killed by a drunk driver. We knew had to do something.”
And so they did. In 2003, the Varelas started JonBoy’s Confidential Transportation, a free transport service staffed by family members and volunteers whose only goal was to keep people who have been drinking from getting behind the wheel.
Night after night someone from the Varela family, or one of their loyal volunteers, would chauffeur intoxicated people home at no charge and with no lecturing. “We’re not against people having fun or drinking,” said Varela. “We are against them drinking and driving.”
JonBoy’s Transporation Service hit hard times in 2009 and the fledging service was unable to cover their growing expenses. With a heavy heart the Varelas decided to fold the service. A newspaper article about their difficulties caught the attention of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, who helped the organization get back on its feet by donating start up capital and luxurious SUVs.
Since then, JonBoy’s Inc, a 501(c)3 organization, has been going strong. With the support of local businesses and the The Rotary Club of Temecula, this year JonBoy’s, Inc. has been elevated to the next level.
“Have we saved lives? I think we have. We’ve kept 1,000 drunk drivers off the road,” said Varela. “We are not anti-drinking. We don’t lecture and we don’t charge (though tips are welcome). You call, and we get you from point A to point B safely.”
JonBoy’s, Inc. also educates young people on the dangers of drinking and driving, and participates in the ‘Every 15 Minutes’ program at the high schools.
Staffed by volunteers, some of whom have been with JonBoy’s, Inc. since the beginning in 2003, the service relies on donations from the community to keep its vehicles going and impaired drivers off the roads. “We don’t get paid to do this, the donations we receive go to our operating costs.” said Varella.
So how, as a business, can you help? Varela suggests talking up the program at company safety meetings and passing out JonBoy’s Inc. cards so employees have their number handy. Employers can also encourage employees to volunteer as drivers. The service also takes donations of any size – even $5 is warmly welcomed – and every business that donates any amount gets their name listed on the JonBoy’s, Inc. website. Even if you only have $1, they will gladly take it.
For more information, visit www.jonboysinc.com. For a ride home after a night out, keep this number handy: 1 (888) 9JonBoy (956-6269).
“16,000 people die every year due to drunk driving,” notes Varela. “And with our free service, we’ve eliminated every last excuse.”
