The Century Council, Aly Raisman Host Event On Capitol Hill On National Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day

Event encourages parents and kids to say 'YES' to a healthy lifestyle and 'NO' to underage drinking

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eighty-three percent of youth report parents to be the leading influence in their decision to drink or not drink alcohol, according to research funded by The Century Council. In light of that information, on national Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, The Century Council hosted an event featuring two-time Olympic gold medalist and "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Aly Raisman to further encourage the critical discussion between parents and their children about saying "YES" to a healthy lifestyle and "NO" to underage drinking.

Parents and kids joined Raisman, NBC 4 Sports Anchor Dan Hellie, 94.7 Fresh FM Morning Host Tommy McFLY, and defender for the local, champion soccer team, Washington Spirit, and the United States Women's National Soccer Team Ali Krieger on Capitol Hill for The Century Council's "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" event where they:

• Met Aly Raisman. Attendees learned how she says "NO" to underage drinking and had a commemorative photograph taken with her.
• Played fun, educational games. Attendees worked their way through an indoor carnival, which included arcade basketball, skeeball, inflatable football toss and The Century Council's "Ask, Listen, Learn" interactive game. The interactive game enables middle school kids to learn about the negative consequences of underage drinking and the benefits of making healthy decisions while they exercise. The premise is based on research by Harvard Medical School's Dr. John Ratey, showing that for a person's brain to function at its peak, the body needs to move. 
• Gave back to the community. Completion of the course resulted in a donation on behalf of The Century Council to U.S. Capitol Police and DC Scores.

"Our sixth annual 'Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day' event provided us with a fun and engaging avenue for parents to begin the conversation with their kids about healthy lifestyles and underage drinking," said Ralph S. Blackman, president and CEO of The Century Council. "The Century Council is always looking for innovative ways to engage our nation's youth about the dangers of underage drinking, and this event aligns with that goal."

In 2012, Raisman partnered with The Century Council to become a "Superstar," or spokesperson, for the organization's "Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don't Mix" initiative, which encourages middle school-aged kids to say "YES" to a healthy lifestyle and "NO" to underage drinking.

For more information about The Century Council or its various programs, visit centurycouncil.org.

About Ask, Listen, Learn
Ask, Listen, Learn is the most widely distributed alcohol education program of its kind. Ask, Listen, Learn's initiatives include Asklistenlearn.com, a website that encourages kids to "say 'YES' to a healthy lifestyle and 'NO' to underage drinking" by offering kids interactive and educational games and videos. On the site kids can read about positive role models and take a pledge to make healthy choices. Parents and educators are also encouraged to visit the site to find tips on how to facilitate these conversations with kids.

About The Century Council
The Century Council, is a national not-for-profit leader in the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking and is funded by the following distillers: Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Beam, Inc.; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands, Inc.; DIAGEO; Hood River Distillers, Inc.; and Pernod Ricard USA. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, The Century Council promotes responsible decision making regarding beverage alcohol and develops and implements innovative programs and public awareness campaigns which ignite action through strategic partnerships. Established in 1991, The Century Council's initiatives are highlighted on its website at www.centurycouncil.org and www.asklistenlearn.org.

Contact: Darron Moffatt, The Century Council
[email protected] or 202-637-0077

SOURCE The Century Council