The Tulsa Health Department Regional Prevention Coordinator Program (RPC) and the Stop DUI Task Force are collaborating to spread awareness about the devastating effects of drunk driving in Tulsa County through the annual Tree of Life holiday display. This year, members of the community are invited to share a photo of their loved ones lost due to a drunk driving incident to be included on the ornaments for the Tree of Life, which will be displayed inside Woodland Hills Mall starting in December.

“It’s important to remember that these victims are real people, not just numbers,” said Kandice Lawson, Prevention Specialist at the Tulsa Health Department. “Giving a face to those who have been lost due to drunk driving can help us understand the true impact that alcohol abuse can have on our community.”

Since 2014, the Tree of Life has served as a reminder of the families in Tulsa County who are missing a loved one during the winter holiday season because of a drunk driving accident. The tree features wrapped gifts as a symbolic representation of the gifts that won’t be opened this year due to a family member who is no longer with us. The number of gifts corresponds to the number of lives lost in Tulsa County due to drunk driving.

Visitors to Woodland Hills Mall can sign a pledge card near the Tree of Life and make a personal commitment not to drink and drive. It’s important for people who consume alcohol to do so responsibly and plan ahead for a sober driver or use ride-sharing services. Photos can be submitted digitally through the Tulsa Health Department website or physically dropped off at three locations within business hours at James O. Goodwin Health Center, Central Regional Health Center, or North Regional Health and Wellness Center between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. All photos are welcomed until December 8th, 2023, with digital copies encouraged but physical copies also accepted. If submitting digitally, please include