Skip to main content
Press ReleasesUncategorized

American Heritage Schools’ Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club Hosted Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)’s Power of You(th)® Presentation on Campus

By April 19, 2023April 20th, 2023No Comments

In an effort to bring awareness of the dangers of impaired driving ahead of prom night and graduation, American Heritage Schools’ Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club hosted Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)’s impactful “Power of You(th)®” presentation for 11th and 12th graders at its Broward campus on April 12.

According to MADD, alcohol-related deaths jumped to more than 13,000 for the first time since 2006. 13,384 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2021 – that’s one person every 39 minutes and 37 people a day killed by someone’s choice to drive drunk.

During the “Power of You(th)” presentation, over 600 seniors and juniors from American Heritage Schools learned about the potentially deadly consequences of drunk driving, drugged driving and distracted driving. Students viewed a DUI exposition of what can happen if someone drives a car under the influence of drugs and alcohol. A DUI crash car, provided by A Superior Towing, was on campus for students to see first-hand examples of these dangers. Members from the Plantation Fire Department extracted mannequins from the mock car crash using the jaws of life tools while narrating the scene.

Leaders from MADD were in attendance including Tess Rowland, MADD’s National President and American Heritage Schools Alumna; Heather Geronemus, Walk Like MADD Fort Lauderdale Founder; Stephanie Murphy, MADD South Florida Program Manager; and Jennifer Walsh, MADD South Florida Affiliate Executive Director. Students heard impactful stories and words from Rowland, Murphy and American Heritage Schools’ SADD Club President Harlee Ross.

American Heritage Schools’ SADD Club, which was founded by Alumnus Harrison Ross in 2020, is a peer-to-peer education, prevention and activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving and more.

“Power of You(th)” is one of MADD’s programs that provides youth with research-based information on the dangers of underage drinking and other drug use. It aims to prepare youth with the tools to resist peer pressure and empower them to take the next step and influence their friends to make the right choices.

“It’s important for us to work with organizations such as MADD to educate our youth and bring awareness to the dangers of impaired and destructive driving, especially ahead of special celebrations like prom night and graduation,” said Dr. Doug Laurie, president of American Heritage Schools. “We couldn’t be prouder of our students who are involved in the SADD Club and helped bring this impactful presentation to our 11th and 12th graders.”

Participating in the “Power of You(th)” presentation is part of Rowland’s mission to change the misperception that MADD is an organization exclusively for parents. For decades, MADD has been invested in educating through prevention in an effort to save the lives of young people. Now, through a new initiative, Coalition 45, Rowland is taking MADD’s youth engagement to the next level. Coalition 45 serves to spark urgency around the fact that 100% preventable deaths related to drunk and impaired driving occur in the U.S. every 45 minutes.

On May 4, 2021, Rowland was driving to her job as a television news reporter in Panama City Beach, FL when a suspected drunk driver with drugs in the car hit her head-on, causing severe, life-threatening injuries. First responders on scene said it was a miracle that she survived, and she is continuing to recover from physical and mental trauma caused by this crash. Rowland first became involved in MADD as a volunteer following the crash and recovery.

“It’s an honor to host the ‘Power of You(th)’ presentation at my Alma Mater,” said Rowland. “After being hit by an alleged drunk driver, I have become a fierce advocate working to ensure this 100% preventable crime doesn’t steal more lives and hope by seeing examples of these dangers first-hand encourages students to drive responsibly.”

In South Florida, the local MADD affiliate’s annual Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K has raised more than $3.5 million since it was founded in 2011 by Heather Geronemus, whose late father, Dr. Robert Perry Geronemus, was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2009. The local South Florida Chapter will host its 12th Annual UKG & The Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K presented by the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County and UBS. The event includes an in-person race on Sunday, May 7 starting near Huizenga Plaza in Fort Lauderdale, plus a virtual participation option. American Heritage Schools’ SADD Club will attend the race.

 

About American Heritage Schools:

American Heritage Schools, founded in 1965, is a nationally-ranked private, nonsectarian, and co-educational college preparatory day school with two 40-acre campuses: the Broward Campus is located in Plantation, Florida, and the Palm Beach Campus is located in Delray Beach, Florida. Its campuses serve approximately 4,800 students in PK3 through 12th grades, and the student body represents over 60 different countries throughout the world. Approximately 70 percent of the faculty hold postgraduate degrees. American Heritage Schools is nationally and internationally accredited by the following associations: Association of Independent Schools of Florida (AISF), Middle States Association (MSA-CESS), and National Council for Private Schools. The Lower School includes advanced classes and 15 electives, and the Upper School offers over 300 courses with 138 honors classes, 28 Advanced Placement classes, and 75 fine arts classes. Pre-professional programs are offered in pre-med, pre-law, pre-engineering, biomedical engineering, business & entrepreneurship, and computer science with classes taught daily by doctors, surgeons, lawyers, judges, engineers, and computer scientists currently practicing in their fields. For 13 years, American Heritage Schools has been ranked the No. 1 high school in Florida for the highest number of National Merit Scholars, and the school is home to the No. 1 math competition team out of all private schools in the U.S. The Model UN team is top 3 in the nation, and the Speech and Debate team is in the top 1% in the nation. American Heritage Schools is ranked among the top private schools in Florida in STEM, according to Niche.

 

For more information about American Heritage Schools, visit its website at www.ahschool.com

 

Broward Campus: (954) 472-0022 ext. 1 or email admissions.broward@ahschool.com

Palm Beach Campus: (561) 495-7272 ext. 1 or email admissions.palmbeach@ahschool.com

 

About MADD:
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. 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. In South Florida, the chapter’s annual Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K has raised more than $3.5 million since 2011. MADD’s Broward and Palm Beach chapters facilitate hundreds of free events each year to educate youth and parents on the dangers and consequences of impaired driving. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.

###

 

Tags:

Recommended For You

Press Releases

The Friends of Jack & Jill to Present the 23rd Annual Power Lunch on Sept. 26

Ashley Saladino
Ashley SaladinoJuly 9, 2024
Press Releases

The Community Foundation of Broward Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Ashley Saladino
Ashley SaladinoJuly 9, 2024
Press Releases

The McMahon Mix & Mingle Inc. to Host a Fundraising Dinner in Support of Broward Children’s Center on July 27

Ashley Saladino
Ashley SaladinoJuly 9, 2024

Leave a Reply

OFFICIAL CONTEST AND GIVEAWAY RULES NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. A PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHANCES OF WINNING. PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION CONSTITUTES YOUR AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES (EXCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND OTHER COMMONWEALTHS, TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS), 18 YEARS OR OLDER.

  1. Terms. By entering this 20/20 contest (“Contest”) and accepting these terms, you agree to be bound by the following rules (“Official Rules”), which constitute a binding agreement between you and Durée & Company, Inc. These Official Rules apply to all online (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.) contests unless otherwise noted.

 

  1. Official Rules: Entrants must fill out all required fields on the entry form to participate in the Contest. After submitting the required information on the entry form, the entrant will receive one (1) entry into the 20/20 Contest. The Contest will begin on January 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET and end on February 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET (“Contest Entry Period”). All times in the Contest refer to Eastern Time (“ET”). Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. Limit one (1) Entry per company during the Contest Period. Entries generated by a script, macro, or other automated means or by any means that subverts the entry process will be disqualified. Entries must be received before January 20, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. ET to be eligible for the Contest.

 

  1. Eligibility. Contest is open only to individuals participate in the Contest or submit an entry and who are eighteen (18) years of age as of the date of entry (“Entrant”). The Contest is only open to legal United States residents who have at least one physical location in Florida, and is void where prohibited by law. Employees of Durée & Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Employees”), and immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of Employees are not eligible to participate in the Contest. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

 

  1. Agreement to Rules. By participating, the Entrant agrees to be fully unconditionally bound by these Official Rules. Entrant represents and warrants that they meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, Entrant agrees to accept the decisions of Durée & Company as final and binding as it relates to the content of this Contest.

  

  1. How to Enter. Entrants must fill out the contest form entirely and send to the name/contact information as instructed. Any automated computer receipt, such as one confirming delivery of email, does not constitute proof of entry for the purposes of these Official Rules. The entry must fulfill all Contest requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Durée & Company. Fraudulent methods or other attempts to circumvent the rules will disqualify an Entrant’s eligibility at the sole discretion of Durée & Company. Durée & Company may disqualify any Entry for any reason, In its sole and absolute discretion.

 

  1. Prizes. The Winner(s) of the Contest (the “Winner”) will receive 20 hours of free services per month for 3 months. No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at Durée & Company’s discretion. The prize is nontransferable. Any and all prize-related expenses, including without limitation any and all federal, state, and/or local taxes, shall be the sole responsibility of Winner. The prize is awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. No substitution of prize or transfer/assignment of prize to others or request for the cash equivalent by Winner is permitted. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Durée & Company to use Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

 

  1. Rights Granted by You: By entering this Contest, the Entrant understands and agrees that Durée & Company, anyone acting on behalf of Durée & Company, and Durée & Company’s licensees, successors, and assigns, have the right, where permitted by law, to print, publish, broadcast, distribute, and use in any media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity and throughout the world, without limitation, the Entrant’s entry, name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, image, statements about the Contest, and biographical information for news, publicity, information, trade, advertising, public relations, and promotional purposes, without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.

 

  1. Terms & Conditions: Durée & Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest should virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, or other cause beyond Durée & Company’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest. In such case, Durée & Company may select the Winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Durée & Company. Durée & Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or website or violates these Terms & Conditions.

 

Durée & Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to maintain the integrity of the Contest, to void votes for any reason, including, but not limited to: multiple entries from the same user from different IP addresses; multiple entries from the same computer in excess of that allowed by Contest rules; or the use of bots, macros, scripts, or other technical means for entering. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such attempt be made, Durée & Company reserves the right to seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

  1. Disqualification. If an Entrant is found ineligible, or if he/she does not comply with the Official Rules, then such Entrant will be disqualified. If a prize, prize documentation, or prize notification is returned as undeliverable or unclaimed, this will result in disqualification. In the event an Entrant is deemed ineligible or disqualified for any reason, then an alternate potential winner will be selected.

 

  1. Disputes. THIS CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND FLORIDA, WITHOUT RESPECT TO CONFLICT OF LAW DOCTRINES. As a condition of participating in this Contest, participant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between the parties, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Minnesota having jurisdiction. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances shall participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to, punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, including reasonable attorney’s fees, other than participant’s actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e. costs associated with entering this Contest). Entrant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

 

  1. Winner(s) will be announced by March 20, 2020.

 

  1. Sponsor. The Sponsor of the Contest is Durée & Company, Inc. 10620 Griffin Road, Suite 208, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328

 

  1. Social Media. The Contest hosted by Durée & Company is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Five Things That Need to be in Your Resume or Cover Letter

To paraphrase Jerry Maguire, help us help you. As we sift through the paperwork, here’s what we are looking for:

1. What you love to do and why.

In PR, you may love writing, editing, interviewing, pitching the media, researching, coordinating events, networking, posting to social media … whew! While we would love it if you had a passion for it all, we’d never believe you if you said as much.

What part of this zany, crazy, whirlwind, yet meticulous, tedious, detail-oriented, profession calls to you and why? Help us make the connection as to how PR is really for you, and call it your Professional Summary.

2. Something you did that changed something or someone else.

If you never showed up to your last job, what wouldn’t have happened? That’s right. Erase yourself. Now which clients disappeared with you? Which articles just fade away? What press releases cease to exist? How much social media did NOT get liked?

We are just meeting you. So take a moment to spell out your impact, and it will be easier for us to see what you can do for the clients of Durée & Company. Share this under your Job Responsibilities.

3. Anything you created.

Feeling humble? Well, stop it. This is the part where you brag. If you craft a delightful blog, master a mind-blowing website, shoot crazy video or direct wonderful events, show us.

Then tell us a bit of how you did it, so we trust that it was your brilliance and not the intern’s. Let’s dub this Your Portfolio.

4. An indication of why you belong here.

At PR firm Durée & Company, we have a culture. Really, all companies do. To learn about ours, do some legwork. At this point, if you’re on our blog, you are in the right spot to begin learning. Hate pink? Not good with women? Live in Kansas? Low energy? Then you might want to reconsider applying. However, if we resemble a group that you’d like to hang out with, share why. You can do that in the Cover Letter.

5. Correctly spelled words – all of them.

Do more than hit spell check. Know how to spell or ask someone to proofread. Correctly spelled words work everywhere, all the time. Consider them the Little Black Dresses of resumes.

So consider these five tips – we’ve just given you a “cheat sheet” about what we’re watching out for. Even if our position may not be for you, feel free to use our advice for another – it may just get you the job!