Tickets on sale at www.lagalaxy.com/tickets/madd
Los Angeles, California (April, 2018) – During Alcohol Awareness Month in April, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) and national sponsor Nationwide are hosting a Power Talk 21 press conference and forum for parents and all role models of underage youth. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. PST on April 21 at the StubHub Center at 18400 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746, just before the Galaxy takes on Atlanta United. Tickets for the forum and for the soccer match are on sale at www.lagalaxy.com/tickets/madd. $5 from every ticket purchased through this link will go towards supporting MADD’s programs and services in Southern California. The event will be broadcasted live on MADD’s Facebook page.
“I am excited to have experts and victims of underage drinking address our all-star parents of the country about the very real consequences of underage drinking at an LA Galaxy game this year,” said Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD National President, whose son Dustin was killed during summer break at age 18 while riding in a car with a teen driver who had been drinking and using drugs. “I am grateful that we have Nationwide every year helping prevent underage drinking, which is a serious concern in our country today.”
On April 21st every year MADD and its partners hold PowerTalk 21, a national event to raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking.
This year, MADD’s focus is on parents of student athletes because studies show:
- Team sports act as a protective factor for younger children, but participation in team sports is not as protective for youth as they age. The impact of parents is more important as children age.
- There is no scientific or medical benefits of alcohol use for youth who participate in sports. In fact, alcohol use for youth increases the likelihood of suffering from a sport-related injury, sleep-deprivation, slow recovery from injuries and stunted production of muscular growth hormones
- Students of parents who take time to talk to their student athletes about alcohol and intervene when they notice a problem are less likely to engage in underage alcohol usage.
- Teen athletes who view alcohol as dangerous are less likely to use, and therefore more likely to excel in sports and be safe and healthy
Bottom Line: When student athletes understand the dangers of underage drinking, they are more motivated to engage in health-promoting behaviors and avoid unhealthy behaviors, like underage drinking.
PowerTalk 21 is a part of MADD’s Power of Parents program that empowers parents of middle school and high school students to have ongoing, intentional conversations about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking. Parents can download free Power of Parents handbooks for parents of middle school and high school students at www.madd.org/powerofparents.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 350,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.
About Nationwide®
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides customers a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, pet, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and specialty health services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, the Nationwide mark, and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
About LA Galaxy
The LA Galaxy are an American professional soccer club, based in Los Angeles that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS). They are one of the league’s most-decorated clubs, having won the MLS Cup a record five times (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014) – the MLS Supporters’ Shield four times (1998, 2002, 2010, 2011,) the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice (2001, 2005), and are one of just two MLS teams to win the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup (2000).
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