Trucker Buddy News

Trucker Buddy news

Salmon’s song to benefit organization

Howard Salmon hit the ground running when he joined Trucker Buddy as a volunteer in 2005, engaging his class right from the start. “The class immediately responded to him with great enthusiasm and admiration,” says Sonja Padgett, teacher of the second-grade class with which Salmon is matched at Anderson Heights Elementary School in Anderson, CA.
     Salmon, the Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month for January, went above and beyond the call of duty with his fundraising efforts. Salmon was as inspired by his students as they were by him, and he wrote a Trucker Buddy song for his class. “This program is so inspiring,” Salmon says. “I don’t have children of my own, and being a Trucker Buddy enables me to give something to lots of children.”
     In early 2006, Salmon was moved to share the song with other Trucker Buddy classes, and he began pursuing options for having the lyrics recorded and set to CD. The goal is to have the song available in time for distribution at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY, March 27-29. Salmon will donate all proceeds from the CDs to Trucker Buddy.
     Part of the song to be recorded includes children singing, which will be performed by the second graders at Anderson Heights Elementary School.
     Songwriting is not the only talent Salmon brings to his class, notes Padgett. “Since he is also an accomplished photographer, we have received beautiful pictures of places we have never been to, including historical monuments,” the teacher says, adding that he also sends pictures of native plants and animals from where they are across the country.
     “This year he took a group picture of our second-grade classes and had it printed on T-shirts, which he gave to each student and teacher,” Padgett wrote in her nomination letter. “We all signed his shirt so he could wear it at the truck show.”
     While having all this fun, Howard still adheres to the basics of the program to supplement and encourage the students’ education. “Howard has traveled across the country sending us e-mail messages, pictures and post-cards,” Padgett says.
     Each Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month receives a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of program sponsor ACS MultiMedia Advertising. Drivers and teachers can find out more about the program by visiting www.trucker-buddy.org or calling 1-800-MY-BUDDY.

Photo caption:
Howard Salmon teaches geography to second-grade class at Anderson Heights Elementary School.