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

CHICAGO, April 15 -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Chrysler Group will visit Amundsen High School in Chicago on April 19 at 8:40 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, located at:

   Amundsen High School
   5110 North Damen Ave (between Foster and Damen)
   April 19, 8:40 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

Wendy Hamilton, national president of MADD, will join Chrysler Group at Amundsen High School to share her 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.

Kristen Kreibich-Staruch, Chrysler Group Manager - Safety Programs, will address the students at the Amundsen High School event.

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.

Chicago is stop seven 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 Amundsen High School.

"Promoting safe-driving habits on the road is a top priority for MADD and Chrysler Group," said Kreibich-Staruch. "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 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/ .