TROY, Mich., Feb. 3, 2012 – The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Education Foundation is reminding students that the deadline for entry into the Courageous Persuaders video competition is approaching quickly. The deadline for entry is February 9, 2012. The announcement was made by DADA President Bob Shuman.

Shuman also announced that long time Courageous Persuaders partner, State Farm Insurance, will offer a new Fan Favorite Award, determined through independent votes on videos posted on a dedicated YouTube channel. The award, a $2,500 cash prize, will be presented to the classroom of the school that produced the video that garners the most votes.

Courageous Persuaders is a competition-based scholarship program that invites high school students to create a 30-second television commercial about the dangers of underage drinking. The commercials are targeted toward middle school-aged children, with the winning entries aired on television and via streaming video on www.courageouspersuaders.com. The Michigan Department of State, led by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, will also show the winning commercials in select Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) branch offices. The winners will be announced at a gala Awards Celebration to be held in May.

“The videos produced by these young people are truly impressive,” said Shuman. “It’s a great demonstration of the creativity of our young people, and at the same time, an important tool in combatting the dangers of underage drinking.”

The Courageous Persuaders program was created in 2000 by Oakland County District Judge Michael A. Martone and John Barczyk, a local McCann-Erickson advertising executive. In 2007, the DADA became the primary sponsor and administrator of the Courageous Persuaders program through its DADA Education Foundation. Last year, the contest drew 514 entries from 898 students in 38 states.

Winning entries are eligible for the following scholarship awards:

• Grand Prize: $3,000
• First Place: $1,500
• Second Place: $1,000
• Third Place: $500

Additionally, special awards are also presented by Courageous Persuaders partners:

• Lindsey Renee Cianciolo Family Memorial Scholarship: $3,000 – two $1,500 Michigan-based scholarship winners
• Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Award: $2,000
• Adcraft Club of Detroit Award: $2,000 – presented to the commercial that conveyed factual information about the dangers of alcohol use
• Wall Street Journal Award: $2,000 – chosen among the most persuasive commercials, as judged by middle school students
• State Farm Insurance: $1,000 – awarded to a Michigan-based entry on the dangers of drinking and driving
• College for Creative Studies Award: $250 – based on the creativity of the commercial
• Wall Street Journal Courageous Leader Award – presented to a special teacher for his or her extraordinary support of the Courageous Persuaders program

Winners are selected after several rounds of judging. During the first round, a panel from the DADA views the entries and identifies the top 60 finalists. Those entries are then reviewed by students at middle schools, who complete questionnaires. Results of the questionnaires determine the winners.

To view the winning commercials and/or enter the 2012 competition, visit the Web site at www.CourageousPersuaders.com, or contact Sandy Herp at 248.283.5138 or sherp@dada.org.

About the DADA Education Foundation
The mission of the DADA Education Foundation is to promote excellence in education through quality programs and leadership.

About Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA)
The DADA was founded in 1907 by 17 local car dealers, and has grown to more than 220 member car and truck dealers who donate their time and resources to a host of community activities. Currently, the DADA members collectively employ more than 16,500 people. Many members participate in the NAIAS, LLC, which is responsible for the production of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). To find out more about Detroit Auto Dealers Association, visit www.dada.org. To find out more about the NAIAS, visit www.naias.com.

Contact: Sandy Herp, Tel: (248) 283-5138, sherp@dada.org

Source: The Detroit Auto Dealers Association
Distributed by: Smartfinds Internet Marketing

TROY, Michigan, June 1, 2011 – The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) awarded high school students who took a stand against underage drinking with $18,000 in scholarships at the annual Courageous Persuaders Awards Celebration, featuring a red carpet arrival and hosted by renowned Detroit television personality Huel Perkins, anchor at WJBK Fox2. The awards celebration was held on May 19th at the Troy Marriott in Troy, Mich.

The DADA is the primary sponsor and administrator of the Courageous Persuaders program, which is facilitated through the DADA Education Foundation. “This was truly an inspirational event,” said Bob Shuman, DADA Vice President, who represented the DADA at the event. “It provides hope that our next generation will not only make positive lifestyle choices, but will inspire others to do the same.”

The competition, now in its 11th year, encourages high school students to create 30-second television commercials warning middle school students about the dangers of drinking alcohol. The contest drew 898 participants who submitted 514 video entries, which included thousands of students from schools throughout the U.S.

Student scholarships and award winners:

• Grand Prize, $3,000 – “That’s Not Cool” by Catrina Stoner, Dundee High School, Dundee, Mich.
• First Place, $1,500 – “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drink” by Casey Rozelle, Lenawee ISD Tech Center, Adrian, Mich.
• Second Place, $1,000 – “Alcohol Doesn’t Fit” by Candice Everett, Stephenson High School, Stephenson, Mich.
• Third Place, $500 – “Best Friends Forever” by Alexandra Eastman, Hailey Thrasher, Alex McPherson, Dearborn High School, Dearborn, Mich.

In addition, special sponsored awards were presented to the following:

• Lindsey Renee Cianciolo Family Memorial Scholarship $3,000 – two $1,500 Michigan based scholarship winners: “Life in Reverse” by Morgan Lawrence, Eisenhower High School, Shelby Twp., Mich., and “Put That Drink Down” by Chelsea Washington, Camryn Washington, Home School, Southfield, Mich.
• Two DADA Awards for $1,000 each – contributed by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association: “Don’t Drink” by Jonathan D’Ambrosio, Lake Orion High School, Lake Orion, Mich., and “1 in 3” by Evan Trout, Fishers High School, Fishers, Ind.
• New York festivals, $2,000 – chosen based on the commercial’s effectiveness to inform and inspire: “Cheers” by Della Paul, Utica High School, Utica, Mich.
• Adcraft Club of Detroit Award, $2,000 – presented to the commercial that conveyed factual information about the dangers of alcohol use in the most persuasive and creative manner: “Why Waste Your Life” by Reid Petro, Kalamazoo Christian High School, Kalamazoo, Mich.
• State Farm Insurance Award, $1,000 – chosen based on the commercial’s effectiveness on the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and automobile usage: “You Know It’s Wrong” by Allison Otley, Angelique and Kara Payette, Janae Engels, Sarah Naegeli, and Alicia Carter, Coleman High School, Coleman, Wis.
• College for Creative Studies Award, a $250 Award and a portfolio or reel review – “Just Say No” by Neil Muck, Lenawee ISD Tech Center, Adrian, Mich.
• Wall Street Journal Award, $2,000 – chosen by the Wall Street Journal staff from among the most persuasive commercials, as judged by middle school students: “You Never Know” by Sean Mouton, Utica High School, Utica, Mich.
• Wall Street Journal Courageous Leader Award – presented to a special teacher for his or her extraordinary contribution to the Courageous Persuaders program: Troy Smith of Vicksburg High School, Vicksburg, Mich.

Winners were selected after several rounds of judging. During the first round, a panel, from the Detroit Auto Dealers Association viewed the entries and identified the top 60 contenders. Those entries were then reviewed by students at middle schools who completed questionnaires. Results of the questionnaires determined the winners.

“It showed me how people look up to you and you should be a good influence,” said a middle school student who judged the winning Grand Prize Award. “It also has a good perspective, it reminds viewers that they are the role models.”

The Courageous Persuaders program was created in 2000 by former Oakland County District Judge Michael A. Martone and John Barczyk, a local McCann-Erickson advertising executive (retired). In 2007, the DADA became the primary sponsor and administrator of the Courageous Persuaders program through its DADA Education Foundation. This year’s entries continued to be strong, drawing from 38 states, demonstrating the continued interest in the program in all areas of the country.

In addition to the scholarship, the grand prize-winning student receives the opportunity to participate in a professional editing session to make the video broadcast ready. The commercial will be broadcast on television, and will be televised in branches of the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office. Winning videos will be posted on www.courageouspersuaders.com. For additional information, please contact the Detroit Auto Dealers Association office at 248.643.0250.

About the DADA Education Foundation
The mission of the DADA Education Foundation is to promote excellence in education through quality programs and leadership. In addition to the Courageous Persuaders program, the Foundation also administers Automotive Education Day at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the NAIAS Poster Contest, and coordinates the Automotive Youth Educational Systems in Michigan, an industry-wide program to enhance a student’s auto technician education.

About Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA)
The DADA was founded in 1907 by 17 local car dealers, and has grown to more than 220 member car and truck dealers who donate their time and resources to a host of community activities. Currently, the DADA members collectively employ more than 16,500 people.

Many members participate in the NAIAS, LLC, which is responsible for the production of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The most significant charitable venture of the DADA is the annual NAIAS Charity Preview, which has raised more than $44 million for children’s charities in southeastern Michigan since 1976. To find out more about Detroit Auto Dealers Association, visit www.dada.org. To find out more about the North American International Auto Show, visit www.naias.com.

Contact: Sandy Herp, Tel: (248) 283-5138, sherp@dada.org

Source: The Detroit Auto Dealers Association

TROY, Mich., Feb. 7, 2011 – The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Education Foundation is reminding students that the deadline for entry into the Courageous Persuaders video competition is approaching quickly. The deadline for entry is February 10, 2011. The announcement was made by DADA President Jim Seavitt.

Courageous Persuaders is a competition-based scholarship program that invites high school students to create a 30-second television commercial about the dangers of underage drinking. The commercials are targeted toward middle school-aged children, with the winning entries aired on television and via streaming video on www.courageouspersuaders.com. The Michigan Department of State, led by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, will also show the winning commercial in select Michigan Secretary of State (SOS) branch offices.

“This high school competition awards creativity and persuasiveness,” said Seavitt. “This is a great opportunity for peer-to-peer influence and education, where high school students learn while creating, and their clever and interesting videos positively impact middle school students’ thinking about the dangers of underage drinking.”

The DADA Education Foundation also announced the Awards Celebration will be held at the Troy Marriott on May 19, 2011, complete with red carpet, strolling supper and an enhanced awards presentation hosted by Detroit Fox 2 News Anchor Huel Perkins.

The Courageous Persuaders program was created in 2000 by Oakland County District Judge Michael A. Martone and John Barczyk, a local McCann-Erickson advertising executive. In 2007, the DADA became the primary sponsor and administrator of the Courageous Persuaders program through its DADA Education Foundation. Last year, the contest drew 743 entries from 1,196 students in 45 states.

Winning entries are eligible for the following scholarship awards:

• Grand Prize: $3,000
• First Place: $1,500
• Second Place: $1,000
• Third Place: $500

Additionally, special awards are also presented by Courageous Persuaders partners:

• Lindsey Renee Cianciolo Family Memorial Scholarship: $3,000 – two $1,500 Michigan-based scholarship winners
• Adcraft Club of Detroit Award: $2,000 – presented to the commercial that conveyed factual information about the dangers of alcohol use
• New York festivals: $2,000 – chosen based on the commercial’s effectiveness to inform and inspire
• Wall Street Journal Award: $2,000 – chosen among the most persuasive commercials, as judged by middle school students
• State Farm Insurance: $1,000 – awarded to a Michigan-based entry on the dangers of drinking and driving
• College for Creative Studies Award: $250 – based on the creativity of the commercial
• Courageous Leader Award – presented to a special teacher for his or her extraordinary support of the Courageous Persuaders program

Seavitt announced that Courageous Persuaders has created a satellite program in San Diego, Cal. The program, administered by the New Car Dealers Association of San Diego County (NCDA), will be a regional program, awarding scholarships of $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 for first, second and third place, respectively, to students of San Diego County.

Winners are selected after several rounds of judging. During the first round, a panel from the DADA views the entries and identifies the top 60 contenders. Those entries are then reviewed by students at middle schools, who complete questionnaires. Results of the questionnaires determine the winners.

To view the winning commercials and/or enter the 2011 competition, visit the Web site at www.courageouspersuaders.com, or contact Sandy Herp at 248.283.5138 or sherp@dada.org.

About the DADA Education Foundation
The mission of the DADA Education Foundation is to promote excellence in education through quality programs and leadership. In addition to the Courageous Persuaders program, the Foundation also administers Education Day at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and the NAIAS Poster Contest.

About Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA)
The DADA was founded in 1907 by 17 local car dealers, and has grown to more than 220 member car and truck dealers who donate their time and resources to a host of community activities. Currently, the DADA members collectively employ more than 16,000 people.

Many members participate in the NAIAS, LLC, which is responsible for the production of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The most significant charitable venture of the DADA is the annual NAIAS Charity Preview, which has raised more than $44 million for children’s charities in southeastern Michigan since 1976. To find out more, visit www.dada.org and www.naias.com.

Contact: Sandy Herp, Tel: (248) 283-5138, sherp@dada.org

Source: The Detroit Auto Dealers Association

TROY, Mich., Nov. 2, 2010 – The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) announced today that The Wall Street Journal, the nation’s premier business and finance resource, has agreed to partner with the Courageous Persuaders program to combat the deadly issue of underage drinking. Additionally, the organization will sponsor The Wall Street Journal Courageous Leader Award, which will include a scholarship award of $2,000 to the winning entry. The Award is open to all entries nationally.

The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition will be the primary vehicle for disseminating information about the program. The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition provides high school students and teachers with engaging, real-life news and information on the world of business. Its reach into high schools nationwide will ensure that the Courageous Persuaders message of discouraging underage drinking is heard by one of the program’s primary audiences.

“At the annual awards show I saw how enthusiastic the students participating in Courageous Persuaders were, how it changes their attitudes about underage drinking, and the impact their work had on the middle school students,” said Ron Boe, director of multi-media sales at The Wall Street Journal. “We are proud to join other national scholarship sponsors like State Farm Insurance and The New York Festivals, and we look forward to helping extend the reach of such an effective program!”

The DADA is the primary sponsor and administrator of the Courageous Persuaders program which is facilitated through the DADA Education Foundation. “The importance of the addition of The Wall Street Journal as a primary supporter of the Courageous Persuaders program cannot be understated,” said DADA president Jim Seavitt, “with the support of this respected publication, we will be able to reach high school students who are serious about their futures, futures that exclude alcohol abuse at a young age.”

The competition, now in its tenth year in Michigan, encourages high school students to create 30-second television commercials warning middle school students about the dangers of drinking alcohol.

Last year’s contest drew 743 video entries, which included participation by thousands of students from U.S. schools in 45 states, including the District of Columbia, and also the Armed Forces Africa, American Samoa, Armed Forces Pacific, and the U.S. Air Force Base in Japan.

The Courageous Persuaders program was created in 2000 by Oakland County District Judge Michael A. Martone and John Barczyk, a local McCann-Erickson advertising executive. In 2007, the DADA became the primary sponsor and administrator of the Courageous Persuaders program through its DADA Education Foundation.

The grand prize-winning commercial is broadcast on television and in Secretary of State offices throughout Michigan. Winning videos are also posted on www.courageouspersuaders.com. For additional information, please contact the Detroit Auto Dealers Association at 248.643.0250.

About The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition
The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition (www.WSJclassroom.com) is an award-winning educational program developed by the publishers of the world’s leading business newspaper, and devoted to preparing young people for the decisions that will shape their future and help them reach their goals. The program comprises a full-color monthly newspaper that incorporates The Wall Street Journal articles of particular interest to teenagers, as well as curriculum materials to help educators integrate news from the business world into their lessons. The advertiser-supported monthly newspaper reaches 1,000,000 students in nearly 9,000 high-school Business, Economics, Civics and English classes nationwide. The Classroom Edition program has been consistently recognized by the educational publishing community for excellence in editorial content and design and illustration, earning more than 30 Distinguished Achievement Awards from the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) since its inception in 1991. In 2010, it was named the AEP’s Periodical of the Year.

About the DADA Education Foundation
The mission of the DADA Education Foundation is to promote excellence in education through quality programs and leadership. In addition to the Courageous Persuaders program, the Foundation also administers Education Day at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and the NAIAS Poster Contest.

About Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA)
The DADA was founded in 1907 by 17 local car dealers, and has grown to more than 220 member car and truck dealers who donate their time and resources to a host of community activities. Currently, the DADA members collectively employ more than 16,000 people.

Many members participate in the NAIAS, LLC, which is responsible for the production of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The most significant charitable venture of the DADA is the annual NAIAS Charity Preview, which has raised more than $44 million for children’s charities in southeastern Michigan since 1976. To find out more, visit www.dada.org and www.naias.com.

Contact: Sandy Herp, Tel: (248) 283-5138, sherp@dada.org

Source: The Detroit Auto Dealers Association