Just Ahead of Prom and Graduation Season, MADD and Chrysler Group Visit Dallas During 21-City Campaign to Educate Teens on Underage Drinking Prevention

Tour Stops at Bryan Adams High School on Friday, April 29

DALLAS, April 27 -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Chrysler Group will visit Bryan Adams High School on Friday, April 29 at 9:45 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 300 students are expected to participate in the pep rally at Bryan Adams High School, located at:

   Bryan Adams High School
   2101 Milmar Dr., Dallas
   972-502-4900
   9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Presenting to the students will be Mary Kardell, MADD Metroplex Chapter executive director; Wendy J. Hamilton, MADD national president; Luis Morais, senior manager, Safety Planning and Programs for Chrysler Group; Bryan Adams Principal Karen Ramos and Bryan Adams PALS student Blanca Santos. In addition, two Dallas Police Department officers Bell and Holder, both Bryan Adams alumni, will speak. These presenters will share their personal experiences and help communicate to students positive health and safety messages.

After taking the 21 Pledge to not drink and drive, the 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.

Dallas is stop 17 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 Bryan Adams 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."

"The 21 minivan tour to 21 cities will reach teens with positive health and safety messages at a celebratory time in their lives," said Kardell. "Unfortunately, not all students take heed of the messages. In 2003 in the Dallas County criminal courts, 418 minors were arrested for driving under the influence. Our goal is to have all students obey the 'zero tolerance' laws. The 21 minivan tour reinforces the importance of waiting until 21 to consume alcohol."

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 & 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/ .