SOAP LAKE - Soap Lake's East Beach was filled with about 150 adults, teens and younger kids carrying signs pointing out underage drinking, and providing alcohol to minors, is illegal.

The people were among the group of attendees at the first-ever Sheila Shine Awareness Project Sunday.

The project aims to raise awareness about underage drinking and was named in honor of the late Sheila Rosenberg, a 17-year-old Soap Lake High School senior. She died in an alcohol-related car accident on Feb. 22, 2011, near Soap Lake.

Her mom, Michele Anderson, now of Everett, explains she wants to reduce the number of minors receiving alcohol from adults.

About 40 percent of minors get alcohol from adults, a number she wants to bring to zero, she said.

The project isn't about bashing teens, but about adults making better choices and being better leaders, she said.

"It's our responsibility to keep kids safe," she said.

In the future, she wants to fund-raise to cover event costs and scholarships.

A long-term goal would involve building a youth center like the YMCA in Soap Lake, she said.

Her fiancé, Ryan Perry, was wearing a black and white memorial T-shirt with Rosenberg's image on the front.

Helen Terry, of Soap Lake, held a sign that read, "It is illegal to provide alcohol to minors." Terry went to school with Anderson.

"I have a daughter," Terry said. "I don't know how she does it."

Rosenberg's father, Donnie Rosenberg, of Olympia, said he appreciated everyone who attended the event.

He led a moment of silence to remember his daughter.

"I'm excited about today and helping Michele make this happen for years to come," he commented.

Shannon Martinez, of Olympia, said she is hoping the event grows.

Before her death, Sheila Rosenberg told Martinez she wanted friends from western Washington to visit the east side of the mountains.

Rosenberg grew up in Olympia, but spent the last four years of her life in Soap Lake, her mom said.

Jessica Ramsey, of Othello, said she didn't know Sheila Rosenberg, but met others at Big Bend Community College who knew of the project.

Ramsey said she prays the project touches the entire state and nation.

Rosenberg's stepmother, Carrie Rosenberg, shared a memory of the two having coffee together and racing at the park.

"It was fun," Carrie Rosenberg said. "She was very competitive. I just miss her a lot."

Sheila's cousin, Sarah Kolar, of Lake Tapps, encouraged youth to stand up for themselves and tell an adult if alcohol is being supplied to minors.

Soap Lake Mayor Raymond Gravelle said he knows youth activities are lacking in Soap Lake, like in most small communities.

The town relies on the school district to provide youth activities, he said.

He said he is proud of the town's skate park.

Soap Lake has an active library supported by Friends of the Library, he said.

The town's parks department is working on a project to turn an amphitheater into an outdoor movie theater in the summer.