AUGUSTA – The Maine Transportation Safety Coalition recently awarded its Champion of Safety Award to Mark Cafiso, associate director of transportation for Community Concepts.

“Mark Cafiso has made a significant contribution to safety in Maine,” said Chairman Gerry Audibert of the Maine Department of Transportation at the award ceremony. “Mark has recruited and trained over 500 individuals in the Maine Driving Dynamics course, and he maintains 300 trained volunteers in one of the largest volunteer programs in the country.”

Cafiso manages the Community Concepts transportation volunteer driver program, which provides rides to people eligible for MaineCare, as well as to children with special needs through the school system and other individuals through contracts with various state and nonprofit agencies. Cafiso was the only individual awarded the honor. Other recipients included the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Liberty Mutual, Lisbon High School’s SADD Chapter and the Lisbon Police Department.

Cafiso thanked the Maine Transportation Safety Coalition and the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety. “Their assistance and support has been invaluable to me,” he said. For information on Community Concepts’ volunteer program, call 795-6073 in Auburn, 743-6905 in South Paris, 364-3685 in Rumford and 779-0594 in Farmington.