MADD Georgia Presents to Atlanta Falcons Rookies
In 2010, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the National Football League (NFL) joined forces to collaborate on player and employee programs, game day initiatives, community relations, and awareness programs to promote MADD’s efforts to prevent drunk driving.
Across the NFL, MADD shares drunk driving victim stories to educate players and staff about the impact and ripple effects of drunk driving.
For the third year in a row, MADD Georgia staff and volunteers presented at Falcons University, a series of educational programs delivered to the incoming Atlanta Falcons rookies on May 24th at Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch.
MADD Georgia State Executive Director Debbie Day introduced the MADD team of speakers and discussed the involvement of the Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses with the chapter.
MADD Georgia Program Specialist Kali Robinson spoke to the rookies about the dangers of drinking and driving and the tragic consequences it can have on their lives and the lives of others, along with the permanent damage it can cause to their careers.
MADD Georgia Volunteer and National MADD Teen Influencer Allie Sands shared her powerful story of losing her brother Tyler in a drunk driving crash on his 22nd birthday. Allie has been a leading teen advocate for MADD Georgia, bravely sharing her story to demonstrate the devastating and reverberating impact that drinking and driving can have on people’s lives.
Other MADD volunteers and staff in attendance included MADD Georgia State Advisory Council members Angie Blank and Amy Sands, as well as Mercedes-Benz Stadium 5K/Walk Like MADD committee member Holly Thomson. Kelly Bryant, MADD Senior Director of Field Relations, and Nicole Fote, MADD Georgia Volunteer Resources Specialist were also in attendance.
The relationship between the Atlanta Falcons and MADD Georgia has grown exponentially since the NFL and MADD joined forces in 2010. The Atlanta Falcons have become one of MADD Georgia’s closest allies in efforts to create a future of No More Victims®. In what began as a partnership on the Rise Up and Run 5K/Walk Like MADD, the now annual Mercedes-Benz Stadium 5K/Walk Like MADD is hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and drew a record 9,235 attendees in 2017. This year’s event is slated to take place on September 15th, 2018.
MADD Georgia is the official partner of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, delivering the Designated Driver Program for Atlanta Falcons home games, in addition to home Atlanta United matches. The Designated Driver Program is a community outreach program that encourages fans to plan ahead to have a safe way to get home from the event that does not involve drinking and driving. By pledging to be a Designated Driver for the event day, fans are provided with a complimentary soft drink cup that they can refill throughout the event.
MADD Georgia looks forward to continuing to collaborate with the Atlanta Falcons and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in efforts to keep our roadways and communities safe.
Come visit MADD Georgia at the Atlanta Falcons Training Camp this summer to learn more about MADD’s efforts across the state!