OUR MISSION IS TO END DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING.
May 23rd: Officially Proclaimed Day of Remembrance for Larisa Karassik
Proclaimed by the Office of the County Executive of Rockland County, New York
We are honored that the Office of Rockland County has officially proclaimed May 23rd a day of remembrance for our daughter, Larisa Karassik.
​
The Larisa Karassik Foundation was created after we tragically lost our daughter to a drunk & drugged driving incident on May 23rd 2013. The Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and taking action against the senseless act of drunk & drugged driving.
​
Thank you to Rockland County, and to our community for supporting us in this incredibly important mission.
​
Our 10-year Memorial Fundraiser Recap
In honor of our daughter, Larisa Karassik, who we lost 10 years ago to drunk & drugged driving, we hosted a 10-year memorial fundraiser on May 17th 2025.
​
This event was an important opportunity to take action and raise awareness against the devastating effects of drunk and drugged driving.
We were joined by New York Senator, Bill Weber, to support the cause, along with a room full of dedicated community members, family, and friends.
​
During our event, we awarded a scholarship to a young student who also recently lost a sibling to intoxicated driving - an important initiative to hold our fellow community members up, and support those who have also suffered from this type of tragic loss.
​
We are so thankful to our community for joining us in making a difference to raise awareness and prevent the devastating impacts of drunk & drugged driving. #Larisastrong
​
Excerpt from Senator Bill Weber's Weekly Newsletter May 2025
Larisa Karassik
OUR DAUGHTER WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED AT THE AGE OF 13 BY A DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVER.
Larisa Alexandra Karassik’s life was tragically cut short on May 23, 2015. It was Memorial Day weekend, and Larisa, like so many others, was enjoying one of the traditional joys of the holiday weekend: going out for ice cream. Larisa, together with her best friend, was seated in the back seat of the car being driven by her father, when a speeding truck ran a stop sign and plowed into the side of their car, killing Larisa and seriously injuring her father and friend.
​
We have come to learn that our daughter’s death has had a profound impact on our community. The love and support of family, friends, neighbors and our community has sustained us and given us the strength to go forward.
We have been humbled by the outpouring of generosity and kindness from our community. The overwhelming community support has inspired us to continue the circle of giving, and to create the Larisa Karassik foundation in our mission to educate our youths on the catastrophic impacts of drunk and drugged driving. We also are dedicated assisting families and victims of drunk driving accidents and fatalities. .
SENATE BILL S17121
Senator David Carlucci honors Larisa Karassik’s memory in his ongoing efforts to support Senate Bill S1721 which relates to the revocation or reissuance of licenses on June 5, 2017.
We are forever grateful to Senator David Carlucci and to his colleagues for supporting this bill which will hopefully be passed and will impose stricter penalties for repeats DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) offenders!
This new law will help prevent prior offenders from getting back behind the wheel of their vehicles and putting more innocent lives at risk!
By strengthening the laws and increasing the consequences of repeat DWI offenders, we should see a lower rate of drunk drivers fatalities and accidents.
We are fighting to end drunk driving
#LARISASTRONG
We will never stop our efforts to educate our youth and fellow community members on the devastating effects of drunk and drugged driving. See the Events page for more information on how we are working with our community to educate and make an impact.
​
Pictured:
Anastasia Karassik: Mother of Larisa Karassik.