Philadelphia Mom Wins Nissan Quest Carpool Parent of The Year
15 June 1998
Philadelphia-Area Soccer Mom Wins Top Honors as the Nissan Quest Carpool Parent of The Year
GARDENA, Calif., June 15 -- Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A.
today named Leslie DeBrocky-Fusfeld of Wynnewood, Pa., the national grand
prize winner of the Nissan Quest Carpool Parent of the Year contest.
DeBrocky-Fusfeld's winning carpooling tips demonstrate a fun and safe driving
experience while transporting America's most precious cargo - children.
Representing the Northeast region, DeBrocky-Fusfeld was selected from
among four other regional finalists from the Western, Southwestern,
Southeastern and Central areas of the United States. In addition to the title
of Carpool Parent of the Year, DeBrocky-Fusfeld will receive a new 1998 Nissan
Quest minivan.
"My number one concern is safety for the carpool, but carpooling is about
having fun with the kids too," says DeBrocky-Fusfeld, who has been in and out
of carpools for more than a decade.
Nissan launched the national search for the Carpool Parent of the Year to
recognize the moms and dads who tirelessly transport the neighborhood children
to school, sports practices, dance classes and other activities. Showing
patience, good humor and ingenuity, DeBrocky-Fusfeld offered carpooling tips
which help make for a more enjoyable ride, including:
* Have parents of the carpool children pre-record "Rules of Behavior" on
cassettes and then play the cassettes as each child enters the vehicle. For
example, "Johnny, this is your father speaking. Are you buckled up?"
* Create a "Map-in-the-Cap" of the carpool route, with each child's house
highlighted and color-coded. Pass the driver's cap onto other participating
carpool drivers.
* For each child, have parents complete a questionnaire with emergency
phone numbers and the child's photograph. Place in a tackle box, along with a
first-aid kit.
* Play "Ridiculous TV Program of the Week," or assign someone to look up
interesting fun facts, e.g., the lifespan of a maggot.
* With young children, lead carpool songs that everyone can sing along
with, such as old standards - "Old McDonald" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
* For the driver, have a "Do It" bag containing note paper, stamps,
reading material for the driver, manicure goodies, mending, needlepoint and
any other little chore that stuffs in a bag.
* Have a tackle box that contains baby wipes, old scrub brushes (for muddy
shoes), trash bags and plastic bags with rubber bands. Use these things to
keep the vehicle clean when you pick up children from a muddy soccer game or
practice.
*Carry a cellular phone in case of emergencies.
Hailing DeBrocky-Fusfeld as one of the unsung heroes of carpooling, Brad
Bradshaw, vice president of marketing for Nissan Motor Corporation, applauds
the practicality, originality and safe driving -- not to mention courage in
the face of tantrums and traffic -- that led to the honor.
The first runner-up, Gail James from Roanoke, Texas, will receive a
prepaid gas card good for up to a year's supply of gasoline. Runners-up Susu
Abu-Shawareb of Lawrenceville, Ga., Patricia Hughey of Spokane, Wash., and
Thomas Kearney of Lyons, Ill., will each receive a $500 prize.
Winning entries were evaluated on practicality and originality. Judges
for the finals included Dr. Dorothy Singer, child psychologist at Yale
University; Dave Price, model line manager for Quest, Nissan Motor
Corporation; a carpool mom; a carpool dad; and carpool sisters.
Through a random survey of 300 carpool kids and 300 carpool parents,
Nissan found that the average carpool parent spends seven hours in the car
with three children every week. To be eligible to enter the Nissan Quest
Carpool Parent of the Year Contest, entrants had to carpool at least three
children for a minimum of six hours a month, have a safe driving record and
had to submit up to 10 tips for fun and safe carpooling.
The 1998 Nissan Quest minivan, with its unique passenger/cargo versatility
and advanced safety features, enjoys the benefits of car-like handling and
ride comfort. The versatile Quest adapts to multiple combinations of people
and cargo hauling needs with its QUEST TRAC(R) Flexible Seating System.
In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering,
manufacturing, sales, consumer and corporate financing, and industrial and
textile equipment. Nissan in North America employs more than 20,000 people in
the United States, Canada and Mexico, and generates nearly 70,000 jobs through
more than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti dealerships across the continent. More
information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and
Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissan-na.com and
http://www.nissan-usa.com.