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October 2, 2025|Safety

OLI 2024 Report: ‘Growth, Outreach, and Lifesaving Education’

Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) on Oct. 1 released its 2024 Annual Report with audited financials, “capturing a year of strategic growth, inclusive outreach and data-driven impact,” as the nonprofit continues its mission to “empower individuals to make safer choices around tracks and trains.”

Presented in a modern, digital-first format, the interactive report highlights new public awareness campaigns, education materials, volunteer engagement and key partnerships—all reinforcing OLI’s vision to stop track tragedies through education, enforcement and engineering, the nonprofit noted.

“This year’s theme reflects not just what we accomplished, but how we’re growing,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “We’ve reached farther through new partnerships and historic events—like during the April 8 eclipse—and we’ve reached more audiences by releasing new resources for transit riders, professional drivers, school bus drivers and more.”

2024 milestones include:

  • Awarding $620,000 in competitive rail safety awareness grants to Operation Lifesaver programs in 33 states—$220,000 funded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh in 11 states, as well as $400,000 funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 22 states.
  • Releasing school bus driver training—Decide Smart, Arrive Safe—and two new PSAs sharing the rail safety education message with an extended audience.
  • Welcoming new State Coordinators across six states and Washington, D.C., expanding OLI’s grassroots reach.
  • Launching a pledge push for OLI’s Transit Safety Pledge Campaign.
  • Earning national certification for OLI’s Railroad Investigation and Safety Course (RISC) for First Responders.
  • Sharing two new #STOPTrackTragedies campaign PSAs and videos highlighting personal stories from individuals impacted by rail incidents.

The report also recaps See Tracks? Think Train!® Week 2024, the largest coordinated public engagement effort of the year, with themed outreach activities, new campaign materials, partner activations, and a wide reach across digital and traditional media channels.

“We’re proud of the momentum we built in 2024—but we’re not done. Stay engaged with us, follow us on social and learn about our 2025 initiatives as we continue to creatively find ways to deliver our lifesaving message,” Maleh said.