Safe Campuses Now is a nonprofit organization based out of Athens that “encourages students to take a proactive approach to their safety,” according to the group’s Web site at www.safecampusesnow.org.

Funded by grants, corporate partners and private donations, the organization works with students to ensure safer campuses through education and hands-on volunteer work.

The organization was one of several at Georgia College & State University on Thursday as part of Alcohol Awareness Week on the GCSU campus.

“We look at campus safety and any preventable injuries that you can face, including car crashes related to drinking and driving,” SCN representative Marie Bottomly said. “All DUI crashes are preventable, especially on college campuses such as that of Athens where a lot of students tend to drink.”

Though alcohol awareness falls under the educational instruction that is at the core of SCN, the organization also deals with areas such as safe driving, sexual assault and drug use.

Any club, community or organization that requests the help of SCN is able to receive it, according to Bottomly.

“We print literally thousands of posters each year, and provide them to anyone who asks,” Bottomly said.

For more information on Safe Campuses Now visit the organization’s Web site at www.safecampusesnow.org.