RADD Recognizes Top Leaders and Educators During the 2014 RADD Spirit Awards in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES--March 14, 2014: RADD, The Entertainment Industry’s Voice for Road Safety, hosted the 2014 RADD Spirit Awards at the Continental Club in Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 11, 2014.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with RADD. Safety is a top priority for Toyota; we believe that the most important safety feature in a car is a capable driver. We support RADD's efforts toward responsible driving and keeping our roads safe for everyone”

The purpose of the Spirit Awards is to recognize individuals, government leaders, businesses and student organizations that demonstrated outstanding support for RADD’s efforts to educate citizens of the dangers of drunk driving and help bring an end to DUI arrests, deaths and injuries among ages 18-34, throughout California.

Notable recipients who received top statewide honors included: Toyota Corporation, San Diego Police Department, Umami Burger, the California Office of Traffic Safety and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Partnering campuses, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues throughout California were recognized with awards for their service as well as law enforcement officials, government partners and student leaders representing RADD’s 26 Campus Partners. (See the full list below.)

Karen Polan, Community Affairs Manager for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. accepted the Corporate Vision Award on the company’s behalf.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with RADD. Safety is a top priority for Toyota; we believe that the most important safety feature in a car is a capable driver. We support RADD's efforts toward responsible driving and keeping our roads safe for everyone,” said Polan.

RADD President Erin Meluso expressed her appreciation for RADD’s partners and supporters.

“Like Toyota, each of RADD’s Spirit Award honorees traveled the extra mile and beyond to make the California College DUI Awareness Project a success. Thanks to their dedication, the California College DUI Awareness Project has grown from humble beginnings of six campuses and 30 retailers to 25 campuses serving 500,000 students and over 350 bars and restaurants throughout the state,” said Meluso.

RADD manages the RADD California Coalition, California’s statewide hospitality alliance, and its regional initiative, the RADD-OTS SD Hospitality DUI Task Force with support from OTS, ABC and Toyota Motor Sales, USA.

The RADD Program is produced in partnership with the University of California, Irvine, under the California College DUI Awareness Project. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information on the California College DUI Awareness Project, a statewide network of 25 partnering campuses; 350 bars and restaurants that donate free rewards to designated drivers, hospitality and corporate benefactors, and supporting federal state and local agencies, please visit College is Rad.

RADD Spirit Awards 2014 Recipients Include:

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Dave, Doucette, California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) San Diego Police Department San Diego Police Department, Ret. Chief Lansdowne Dr. David Manning, NHTSA Regional Administrator Umami Burger Continental Club Discover Pacific Beach Gaslamp District Association North Park Mainstreet PB Shore Club Catamaran Resort Dick’s Last Resort Fullerton Police Department ECHO Unit Joe Florentine, Florentine’s, Co-Chair Downtown Restaurant Assoc. Jeremy Popoff, Slidebar, Co-Chair Downtown Restaurant Assoc. Elizabeth Peterson, EPGLA Laura Ann Masura, RADD NEHA Co-Chair The Standard Hotel Downtown LA The Edison 213 Romano’s Restaurants & Concert Lounge Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co. SAC Chapter, USBG California State University, San Bernardino University of Redlands University of California, Riverside California State University, Northridge University of Southern California, Keck University of California, Los Angeles California State University, Fullerton University of California, Irvine Concordia University, Irvine Orange Coast College California State University, Sacramento University of California, Davis University of the Pacific San Diego State University University of California, San Diego University of San Diego California State University, San Marcos San Jose State University University of California, Santa Cruz