A tragedy that changed a Bradenton mother’s life more than two decades ago has grown into an effort that has helped millions of people make sure their families can be reached quickly during an emergency.
Christine Olson, founder of To Inform Families First, known as TIFF, spoke to the Bradenton Kiwanis Club on Tuesday, Aug. 18, sharing the story behind the organization and encouraging residents to register and regularly update their emergency contact information.
TIFF was created following the death of Olson’s 22-year-old daughter, Tiffany, in a motorcycle crash on U.S. 19 in Palmetto on Dec. 7, 2005. Although the crash occurred about 15 minutes from Olson’s home, authorities did not have readily available emergency contact information and it took more than six hours for Olson to be notified of her daughter’s death.
That experience led Olson to advocate for a system that would give law enforcement immediate access to a person’s designated emergency contacts rather than relying primarily on the address listed on a driver’s license.
Working with then-state Rep. Bill Galvano, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and law enforcement agencies, Olson’s efforts helped establish Florida’s voluntary Emergency Contact Information program in October 2006. The program became the first of its kind in the nation.
Under the system, Floridians can voluntarily provide emergency contact information connected to their driver’s license or state identification record. The information is maintained in the state system and is available to law enforcement to help officers contact family members or other designated individuals when someone is seriously injured or killed.
The Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office says residents can provide information for up to two emergency contacts online. Emergency contacts can also be added or updated during certain driver’s license, ID card, motor vehicle or mobile home transactions.
What began in Manatee County has since expanded far beyond Florida. According to information released by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s office, more than 21.6 million Floridians were enrolled in the program as of August 2025, and 18 states had adopted voluntary emergency contact programs.
Olson’s work is now also part of an effort to expand the concept nationwide. Buchanan introduced the To Inform Families First Act, or TIFF Act, H.R. 6051, in November 2025. The legislation would provide federal assistance to state motor vehicle agencies to establish programs allowing residents to voluntarily submit emergency contact information that can be accessed by law enforcement.
The mission remains rooted in Manatee County. The county describes TIFF’s mission as strengthening communication between emergency first responders and families or other designated loved ones through emergency contact information during critical situations.
Olson’s presentation to Bradenton Kiwanis emphasized a simple step residents can take before an emergency occurs: make sure their emergency contacts are registered and current.
Florida residents can learn how to register or update their information through the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Emergency Contact Information page. Additional information about the organization and its mission is available through To Inform Families First.
