Chevy Suburbans Drive Home The Madd Message With Students Across The Country
FOR RELEASE: February 27, 2002Chevy Suburbans Drive Home The Madd Message With Students Across The Country
New Multi-Media School Assembly Programs Address Underage Drinking Issue Among High School, Junior High and Elementary Students
DALLAS - Putting its program in high gear at the Dallas Auto Show, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced that its new partnership with Chevrolet has taken its national multi-media school assembly programs "Fake ID" and "Street Smarts" to more than 500 schools and 225,000 students across the country. The shows teach students how to refuse alcohol, make smart decisions, and keep themselves healthy and safe.
"We are honored to have Chevrolet as our partner in this important nationwide effort," said MADD National President Millie I. Webb. "America's youth are learning how to handle peer pressure and protect themselves from the dangers of underage drinking through these school programs."
Chevrolet is the national presenting sponsor and official vehicle provider for the "Fake ID" and "Street Smarts" programs. In addition to other financial support, Chevrolet is providing 10 specially identified Suburbans. The Suburbans are used to transport the multi-media shows to schools across the country. One of the Suburbans for the school programs will be on-site during the news conference.
Jay Allen, regional divisional marketing manager, Chevrolet, said, "We are proud to be a sponsor of the "Fake ID" and "Street Smarts" programs. Not only are our Suburbans carrying the cargo for these multi-media programs, we are helping MADD protect the precious lives of our young people."
Alcohol is the No. 1 substance abuse problem among youth. During a typical weekend, an average of one teenager dies each hour in a car crash in the United States. Nearly 50 percent of these crashes involve alcohol.
Hosted by "Home Improvement's" Zachery Ty Bryan with appearances by actress Rachael Leigh Cook and Jillian Parry (Miss Teen USA 2000), "Fake ID" uses the latest DVD technology and three giant screens totaling 10 1/2' x 43'. The fast-paced, 38-minute show catches students' attention with an exciting blend of powerful imagery and special effects and uses poignant stories of real young people, clips from major motion pictures and segments from current music videos to challenge students to think about who they want to be, what they want their futures to hold, and wise decisions that will help ensure a healthy future. The multi-media equipment weighs almost 800 pounds and includes three giant screens, three projectors, two large speakers that fill an auditorium with crystal clear sound, and a complete soundboard and DVD multimedia theatre system.
The companion show for elementary students, "Street Smarts", has an emphasis on personal safety, how alcohol affects growing brains and why it is important to make healthy choices. ""Fake ID" and "Street Smarts" are important programs in MADD's ongoing efforts to involve young people in the fight against underage drinking and impaired driving," said Webb.
The largest division of General Motors, Chevrolet fulfills the transportation needs of more than 36 million Americans daily -- more than any other auto manufacturer -- and offers the broadest lineup of cars, trucks and vans in the industry.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a grassroots non-profit organization with a mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD's school outreach operation has booked nearly 1,000 shows this school year in Alabama, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Texas and additional states such as New Mexico are also slated for the 2002-2003 school year. For more information or to book a show for your school, call 1-800-GET-MADD, visit www.schoolassembly.org or e-mail assembly@madd.org.
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