Alexandria, VA, Dec. 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake close the door on the 2013 season after amazing performances at MLS Cup 2013™,the two winners of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards™ (RHIR) sweepstakes had the experience of a lifetime thanks to Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition and Hillard Heintze, one of the leading private strategic security advisory and management companies in the United States.
Jennifer Wilton and Patricia Ferry were selected as the grand prize winners of the sweepstakes, and their eligibility was confirmed by Hillard Heintze. Wilton, a Sporting Kansas City supporter from Overland Park, KS and Ferry, a Real Salt Lake supporter from Tooele, UT will attend MLS Cup 2013. They were randomly chosen from over 26,000 supporters all over the United States and Canada who pledged to be designated drivers, ensuring a safe ride home for their friends and family.
For the eighth consecutive season, Major League Soccer (MLS) and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition have joined together to make more supporters aware of the designated driver programs offered at MLS stadiums. The designated driver programs and the "Responsibility Has Its Rewards" sweepstakes promote traffic safety by encouraging responsible drinking and positive supporter behavior.
"This promotion is an opportunity for MLS to show support for the clubs' efforts in coordination with the concessionaires, the brewers and the local beer wholesalers to encourage responsible supporter behavior," said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. "For supporters, it's a great reminder that responsibility really does have its rewards."
As the Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake Designated Drivers for the Season, each sweepstakes winner received two tickets to MLS Cup 2013. They were recognized on the video scoreboard and they met MLS and club officials.
"As we have been for many years," Arnette Heintze, CEO of Hillard Heintze said, "we are proud to be partnering with TEAM Coalition in keeping supporters and their families - and other people on our roads safe." Hillard Heintze conducts the background checks for the winners using the technology and services of S2Verify, LLC, one of the fastest growing companies in the employee screening market and the leading screening industry process innovator.
About TEAM Coalition
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaries, stadium service providers, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, traffic safety experts and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM Coalition members and supporters include Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies - Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch Companies, MillerCoors, Live Nation, National Association of Broadcasters, Contemporary Services Corporation, Elite, International Association of Venue Managers, Stadium Managers Association and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For more information, go to www.TEAMCoalition.org, www.RHIR.org or www.FansDontLetFansDriveDrunk.org.
About Hillard Heintze
Hillard Heintze is one of the leading investigation and security risk management firms in the United States. The company helps clients protect their people, property, performance and reputations. It does so by providing investigative, security and law enforcement advisory services worldwide that yield insight, deliver assurance, and instill confidence. Headquartered in Chicago, Hillard Heintze also has operations in Washington D.C., Raleigh, Boston, Miami, San Jose and Virginia Beach, as well as operating capabilities across North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Asia. For more information, visit www.hillardheintze.com.For more information, go to www.hillardheintze.com.
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