Mazda Foundation Supports After-School All-Stars Atlanta Student-led Project to Reduce Distracted Driving

1,500 students and community members gather to reduce distracted driving in the greater Atlanta area

News provided by

Mazda North American Operations; Mazda Foundation

Mar 27, 2015, 06:50 ET

ATLANTA, March 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- After-School All-Stars (ASAS) announced today that the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. is supporting student-led service projects that bring greater awareness to the dangers of distracted driving. In partnership with the Mazda Foundation and Project Yellow Light, ASAS Atlanta Youth Advisory Board Member Markis Johnson and his peers are hosting the "Super Saturday Service Day", a carnival-style event incorporating student performances in the form of skits, dance, poems, and speeches to illustrate the dangers driving distracted poses to community safety. About 1,500 students and community members from across Atlanta are expected to attend.

Ben Albino, 2014 MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge runner up, the 2013 MAZDASPEED Challenge Summer Series Champion and Rookie of the Year in the 2012 MAZDASPEED Challenge Summer Series, will be attending to share safe driving tips, take photos and sign autographs.

When: Saturday April 4 from 11:00am- 3:00pm

Where: B.E.S.T. Academy: 1890 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

What: The "Super Saturday Service Day" aimed at reducing distracted driving and showcasing student performances is free and open to the public

"These students bring such creative approaches to spread the message that distracted driving is a serious community concern," said Tamara Mlynarczyk, Manager, Public Affairs, Mazda North American Operations. "From 'Super Saturday Service Day' here in Atlanta to rallies, social media campaigns and parent engagement nights, ASAS Youth Advisory Board Members mobilized their peers and demonstrated incredible social responsibility. The Mazda Foundation is proud to support these young civic leaders."

Saturday's event is just one of nine student-led community service events organized by After-School All-Stars Youth Advisory Board Members aimed at reducing distracted driving taking place across the country as part of Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). Established in 1988, GYSD celebrates and mobilizes the millions of young people who improve their communities through service. GYSD is the largest service event in the world and the only one dedicated to the contributions that children and youth make 365 days of the year. ASAS' Youth Advisory Board Members' distracted driving events also mark the culmination of a year of service learning which began in July 2014 at a student leadership and advocacy training summit in Washington D.C. made possible by the Mazda Foundation (USA), the exclusive sponsor of ASAS' Life Service Action (LSA) national initiative. LSA was developed to enhance student achievement, help students develop as leaders, and inspire participants to engage in their communities, through student-led, curriculum-driven service learning projects.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Tamara Mlynarczyk, Manager, Public Affairs, Mazda North American Operations
- 202-467-5092 or [email protected]
Kristy Gausman, Cause Marketing Associate, After-School All –Stars
- (323) 938-3232 ext. 121 or [email protected]

About Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc.

Acting on a strong sense of responsibility to give something back to the communities in which it operates, Mazda established a philanthropic foundation. As the corporate foundation of Mazda North American Operations, it has awarded over $8 million to worthwhile causes across the United States since its initial grants in 1992. To learn more about the Mazda Foundation, please visit www.mazdafoundation.org.

About After-School All-Stars

Founded in 1992, After-School All-Stars (ASAS) is a leading national provider of year-round, school-based, comprehensive afterschool programs. The organization's mission is to keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. Every school day, students in low-income communities have access to free programs that offer academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health and fitness activities. Nearly 90,000 children from 15 U.S. regions benefit: ASAS serves Atlanta, Chicago, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Newark, New York, North Texas, Ohio, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, South Florida and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.as-as.org.