10 Teen Winners Announced for MADD and State Farm's First-Ever Power of You(th) National Teen Influencer Group

-- Teens nominated and selected through underage drinking prevention video contest --

DALLAS, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving^® (MADD), along with Presenting Sponsor State Farm^®, is announcing today the 10 teens chosen to be part of MADD's first-ever National Teen Influencer Group. Through MADD's Power of You(th)^™ program, five teens were selected from nominations submitted by MADD, MADD partners and State Farm employees and volunteers, and the other five were selected based on their entries in a national video contest.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110412/MADDLOGO)

All 10 teens have secured a spot in MADD's National Teen Influencer Group and an all-expenses-paid trip to MADD's National Office in Dallas for a National Teen Influencer Summit in late June 2012. In addition, the five video contest winners have won an iPad 2. The grand prize winner of the Power of You(th) video contest, Christian Alvarez from Bradenton, Fla., will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to be recognized during MADD's National Conference in September 2012.

"It's truly inspiring to see such passion and enthusiasm among these 10 young people," said MADD National President Jan Withers. "MADD hopes to work with these teens to harness the Power of You(th) and motivate teens around the country to take a stand against underage drinking."

Teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year — more than all other illegal drugs combined. To address this epidemic, MADD and State Farm have established the first-ever Power of You(th) National Teen Influencer Group, which includes these 10 outstanding teens. In June, the teens will attend a National Teen Influencer Summit, which will focus on how best to educate teens across the country to take a stand against underage drinking. This elite group of teens will provide their insight on creation of an underage drinking prevention initiative that saves lives and empowers young people to make a difference in their community.

"State Farm is proud to team up with MADD on the Power of You(th) program, which enables teens to create positive change around the many dangers associated with teen alcohol use," said Kellie Clapper, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations for State Farm.

The following are the video contest winners, who were asked to create a short video to creatively show the Power of You(th) to help prevent underage drinking:

• Christian Alvarez (Grand prize winner): age 16, attends Southeast High School, lives in Bradenton, Fla.
  • Video entry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-fMvmP4FY4
• Austin Baltierra: age 18, attends North Port High School, lives in North Port, Fla.
  • Video entry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIMWHoZXt_I&feature=youtu.be
• Cory Krakowsky: age 17, attends Westwood High School, lives in Westwood, Mass.
  • Video entry: http://thundercrankproductions.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/psa/
• Nikelle Kelly: age 17, attends Lakewood Ranch High School, lives in Bradenton, Fla.
  • Video entry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4er-UHxY0xk
• Will Banks: age 16, attends Southampton High School, lives in Southampton, N.Y.
  • Video entry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUv59NctLTk

And these are the teens nominated by MADD, MADD partners and State Farm employees and volunteers for their contributions to underage drinking prevention in their communities:

• Tom Balke: age 18, attends Edina High School, lives in Edina, Minn.
• Renee Brown: age 17, attends Lexington Catholic High School, lives in Lexington, Ky.
• Sarah Haiken: age 13, attends West Hollow Middle School, lives in Melville, N.Y.
• Tucker Lehman: age 15, attends H.D. Jacobs High School, lives in Algonquin, Ill.
• Melissa Stegner: age 17, attends Centreville High School, lives in Clifton, Va.

To learn more about MADD and State Farm's Power of You(th) program, visit www.madd.org/powerofyouth.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving^® (MADD) is the nation's largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving^® will end this danger on America's roads. PowerTalk 21^® is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, using the proven strategies of Power of Parents^™ to reduce the risk of underage drinking. And as one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every nine minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP.  Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.

About State Farm
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.

SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving

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