By Debbie Weir
MADD CEO
Since the National Football League (NFL) and MADD formed a league-wide partnership in 2010, more than half of the teams have worked directly with MADD’s dedicated volunteers to help keep their fans, players, and staff safe on the roadways.
Each team creates a program unique to their city and their fans, and one team that has done an outstanding job working with MADD to help keep their community safe is the Atlanta Falcons.
MADD and the Falcons began a partnership in 2013 with the team, the owner and his family foundation, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Together, they have become one of our biggest champions in the state of Georgia, engaging in a variety of community activities.
Working to end drunk driving. The Falcons and The Blank Foundation supported the 2014 Atlanta Walk Like MADD event that aims to help MADD end drunk driving in our lifetime. Joining the event was their team of more than 75 walkers, including Falcons cheerleaders, Freddie Falcon, and the team owner himself, Arthur Blank. They also sponsored the Youth Zone for teens to both have fun and learn how to live a positive, healthy life.
They will be back for this year’s Walk with the leadership of Angie Macuga, fiancée of Arthur Blank, serving on the Atlanta Walk Like MADD committee as the event’s Co-Chair.
The Falcons also helped secure and support new Walks in South Georgia and Augusta in 2014. With their help, both Walks raised record amounts: South Georgia Walk raised a new record amount at $7,500, while the Augusta Walk raised over $20,000.
Supporting our heroes who keep the roads safe: The Falcons also support MADD Georgia’s Golden Shield awards for law enforcement, one of MADD’s premiere law enforcement recognition events. Both players (Mallicah Goodman and Stansly Mapongo) and cheerleaders (Alice and Naiz, at right) attended, helped give out awards, and signed autographs for our heroes who keep our roads safe to a crowd of more than 600.
Fighting underage drinking. During Red Ribbon Week in 2014, players like Justin Blalock and Josh Harris along with former Falcons standout WR Brian Finneran spoke to high school students about the dangers of underage drinking and the positives of maintaining your body and mind.
The Blank Foundation also supported MADD Georgia’s Teen Influencer Group, which encourages teens to take a leadership role in talking with their peers about resisting negative pressure and about the Power of You(th).
MADD would like to thank the Atlanta Falcons, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the NFL for helping to make our roads safe.
If you would like to work with MADD to help bring Power of Parents or Power of You(th) to your school or youth group, just call 877.ASK.MADD (877.275.6233) or go to madd.org to find your local office.