MADD National Conference a Success

Staff and volunteers from MADD Northeast Illinois and MADD Illinois attended the National Conference Sept. 4th through September 7th in Dallas, Texas.  Attendees were brought up to date on the full gamut of topics ranging from support of the 21 drinking age to advanced technology being developed in the automobile industry to prevent drunk driving.

Area Communities take MADD on "National Night Out"

National Night Out is a community event held the first Tuesday of every August. It aims to increase awareness about anti-crime and safety programs in communities. Many communities hold block parties and festivals to help bring neighbors together. Each year, communities invite MADD to participate, and this year MADD Northeast Illinois attended National Night Out in Bartlett, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Park Ridge and West Chicago.

Schools celebrate "Red Ribbon Week"

MADD supports local schools and community groups in their participation in the annual Red Ribbon Week for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness.  Look for schools to don their red ribbons the last full week in October.

MADD's "Tie One On For Safety" red ribbon season reminds us to support the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving

Tie One On For Safety (TOOFS) is MADD's premier public awareness project, which has been successfully engaging public support for safe holiday driving for the past 22 years.  More than 6 million ribbons and ribbon symbols are distributed annually to drivers, who display them as a pledge to drive safe, sober and buckled up, reminding others to do the same.  In the Northeast Illinois Region, look for red ribbons on police vehicles, for distribution in schools, businesses and public places.  If you would like to distribute ribbons locally, contact our region office at (800) 591-MADD.  A partner to our TOOFS efforts is our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

The Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving is MADD's ongoing effort to completely stop drunk driving through focus on four components:  intensive high-visibility law enforcement efforts, such as safety checkpoints; mandatory ignition interlocks, which will be mandatory for all first time DUI offenders in Illinois as of January 1, 2009; advanced vehicle technology; and mobilization of grassroots support.  To find out more about the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving and how you can be a part of it, visit the National website at www.madd.org.

"Take Two" multimedia show visited area schools

MADD's acclaimed multi media show, "Broadband" visited Chicago area high schools the week of April 14 through April 18th, and April 21st through 23rd, 2008.  The show was presented in a different area of the Northeast Illinois Region each day of its week long run. 

"Broadband" was shown the evening of April 21, 7:00 pm at Deerfield High School for students and parents of both Deerfield and Highland Park High Schools, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Gregory Auto Group (www.gregoryautogroup.com) and the Optimist Club of Deerfield (www.deerfieldoptimist.org).  Many thanks to these sponsors for bringing this important message to local youth.

Schools interested in hosting the show, or in sending students please call our Region office at 630-428-2442.  For more information on "Broadband" or other school assembly shows please visit www.schoolassembly.org.