CarMax Foundation Helps Expand MADD College Program With $150,000 Grant
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 6, 2006 -- CarMax, Inc. and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced today that the CarMax Foundation has granted $150,000 to MADD to establish new student-driven University Mothers Against Drunk Driving (UMADD) chapters and support nine existing UMADD chapters on college campuses across the country. The CarMax Foundation is the founding sponsor of the UMADD program and provided $250,000 in grant funding during 2004 and 2005.
"All too often, underage alcohol use and binge drinking is accepted as a rite of passage, especially in college," said Glynn Birch, MADD national president. "Through UMADD chapters, students can help change that culture by directly influencing their peers, campuses, and communities through education and enforcement. We share CarMax's commitment to protecting the lives of college students, and together we will continue to do this by expanding the UMADD program."
The goal of the campus-based UMADD program is to engage students in prevention strategies against underage drinking, binge drinking, and impaired driving; limit youth access to alcohol; increase enforcement of underage drinking and impaired driving laws; and work with campus leaders to minimize alcohol problems.
Research shows that drinking by college students (ages 18-24) contributes to an estimated 1,700 student deaths, 500,000 injuries, 600,000 assaults, and 70,000 sexual assaults each year. In addition, it is estimated that as a result of college drinking, 400,000 students engage in unprotected sex, and 150,000 develop an alcohol-related health problem each year. About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of drinking alcohol.
Through the CarMax Foundation funding, the UMADD program was launched on five campuses in 2005, including Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.; Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.; the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn.; Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, Pa.; and Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. In 2004, CarMax funded four UMADD chapters: at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla.; Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky.; Towson University in Baltimore, Md.; and East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn.
This most recent grant will provide each UMADD chapter with funds to recruit and training student leaders, conduct prevention projects on campus, and work with the surrounding community to ensure underage students do not have access to alcohol.
"We are proud to support the UMADD program that is empowering students to spread the message about safe driving on college campuses," said Joe Kunkel, president of the CarMax Foundation. "Similar to the CarMax business, the CarMax Foundation is dedicated to supporting programs that are using unique and innovative solutions to tackle big challenges."
About MADD
MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. Since its founding in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 300,000 lives. A 501 (c) 3 non-profit grassroots organization, MADD is working to save lives and prevent injuries in hundreds of communities and has approximately 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Web site: http://www.madd.org/.
About the CarMax Foundation
The CarMax Foundation's National Funding Program assists nonprofit organizations that address or improve automobile safety for families and children. CarMax, Inc. supports the foundation. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 67 used car superstores in 31 markets. Web site: http://www.carmaxcares.com/.
