MADD and Chrysler Group Visit Miami During 21-City Campaign to Educate Teens on Underage Drinking Prevention
Tour Stops at Felix Varela High School on Monday, April 25
MIAMI, April 22 -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Chrysler Group will visit Felix Varela High School on Monday, April 25 at 9 a.m. to raise awareness among teens of the perils of underage drinking and promote teen driving safety just in time for prom and graduation season.
More than 1,100 seniors are expected to participate in the pep rally at Felix Varela High School, located at:
Felix Varela High School 15255 South West 96th Street, Miami 305-752-7900 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Speaking to the students will be Diane Holmes, President of MADD Miami; Luis Morais, Senior Manager - Safety Planning and Programs for Chrysler Group; and Officer Susan Bedal of the Miami-Dade Police Department. They will share their personal experiences and help communicate to students positive health and safety messages at a time when the pressures and celebrations of prom and graduation season are at an all-time high.
After taking the 21 Pledge to not drink and drive, students will sign one of the 21 minivans currently touring high schools in 21 cities nationwide to educate teens on making smart and healthy decisions not only during the upcoming celebrations for prom and graduation, but every time.
In addition to the pep rally, students will also participate in Backstage Pass, a new dynamic multimedia school assembly show from MADD and National Presenting Sponsor DaimlerChrysler. The program uses teen TV and movie idols, hip music, visual special effects and stories of real-life tragedies to communicate the consequences of underage drinking and the importance of making safe, healthy choices, including driving safety. The Miami-Dade Police Department is sponsoring the Backstage Pass presentation.
Miami is stop 14 of 21 that MADD and Chrysler Group are making as part of the "21 Turns 21: Lifesaving Milestones" program. With more than half of all fatal car crashes on typical prom weekends involving alcohol (National Highway Traffic Safety Association 2005), this program is timed to ensure a safe, memorable prom and graduation season for the students of Felix Varela High School.
"Promoting safe-driving habits on the road is a top priority for MADD and Chrysler Group," said Morais. "That's why the Company donated 21 Chrysler and Dodge minivans to MADD - to help prevent teen deaths, which are prone to rise during the summer months, and to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the National 21 Minimum Drinking Age Act. Working together with MADD we want to encourage teens to be smart, safe and remain sober -- not just during prom and graduation -- but at all times."
"While we are thrilled to welcome the 21 minivan tour to Miami in celebration of this important lifesaving anniversary, we know that much work remains to be done in our own city and throughout the country," said Holmes. "The 21-city tour will help us reach more teens with positive health and safety messages at a time when the pressures and celebrations of prom and graduation season are at an all-time high."
The tour is in celebration of the 21st anniversary of the lifesaving 21 Minimum Drinking Age Act as well as the 21st birthday of the Chrysler Town & and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans. In honor of these milestones, Chrysler Group donated 21 Chrysler and Dodge minivans for 15 months to MADD to help expand its lifesaving education programs for youth.
Additional information and news about the "21 Turns 21: Lifesaving Milestones" tour can be found at http://www.madd.org/21 and http://chryslergroup.daimlerchrysler.com/ .
