Uber & #WHATSMYNAME Foundation Join Forces To Promote Rideshare Safety On College Campuses

Together the partners are doubling down to help increase the impact on rideshare safety programs through education and technology, while honoring the memory of Samantha Josephson

(ROBBINSVILLE, New Jersey)  July 2, 2020 –  Today Uber and the #WHATSMYNAME Foundation announced a partnership to help promote rideshare safety for college-aged students. The #WHATSMYNAME Foundation was founded by Seymour & Marci Josephson to educate the public on the importance of rideshare safety in honor of their daughter, Samantha Josephson. Through this collaboration, Uber, the Josephson family and the foundation are strengthening its commitments to campus safety to help increase awareness and education on rideshare safety — on and off college campuses.

On March 29, 2019, Samantha Josephson, a 21-year-old senior at the University of South Carolina, was kidnapped and murdered when she was targeted by an individual posing as a rideshare driver. Immediately following this unimaginable tragedy, the Josephsons set out to educate the world on the importance of rideshare safety so that no other family would have to suffer this kind of loss.

“Given the unimaginable loss of our daughter, Samantha Josephson, the mission of educating the public on rideshare safety has always started with college students”, said Seymour Josephson. “We are proud to announce this partnership with Uber, an organization that has already demonstrated its commitment to rideshare safety that includes existing alliances with colleges and universities around the world.”

#WHATSMYNAME Foundation has already made significant progress in its efforts to educate the public on rideshare safety. In addition to fueling increased rideshare safety awareness through local, regional and national media outlets, the Foundation has partnered with colleges, businesses and municipalities across the country to create designated rideshare safety zones with signs including the “SAMI” safety tips featuring Stop, Ask, Match, Inform. The Josephsons frequently conduct rideshare safety presentations and seminars for organizations as well.

“What happened to Samantha Josephson was an unspeakable tragedy and something that no parent or family should go through,” said Tracey Breeden, global head of women’s safety, Uber. “We are honored to partner with the #WHATSMYNAME Foundation and the Josephson family to help continue raising awareness on rideshare safety. Together working alongside colleges and cities, while leveraging education and technology, we can all help create safer communities.”

Since 2017, Uber has been focused on building technology and investing in safety features to help provide riders and drivers with the tools they need to help ensure a safe and reliable experience. Last year, the company rolled out Verify Your Ride, which provides riders a unique 4-digit PIN that they can verbally provide to their driver who will have to enter it into their own app in order to start the trip. This feature provides an extra layer of safety and peace of mind for the rider and driver that the rider is getting into the correct vehicle.

University campuses, law enforcement, and student organizations play a key role in helping keep students safe, and #WHATSMYNAME & Uber are committed to help provide access to safety tools and education so we can all do our part to be safe.