East Rutherford, NJ, Feb. 3, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TEAM Coalition proudly joined forces with the National Football League and Bud Light in support of the national Responsibility Has Its Rewards (RHIR) campaign at the 2014 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii and Super Bowl XLVIII® in East Rutherford, NJ. Throughout the 2013 NFL season, each NFL team offered fans the opportunity to pledge to be a designated driver. At the end of the regular season, each NFL team selected one fan to be the Designated Driver for the 2013 Season.
Almost 250,000 fans across the league participated in this life-saving program during the 2013 regular season. The Designated Drivers for the Season for the Denver Broncos - Karin Cambria - and the Seattle Seahawks - Luke Johnson - attended Super Bowl XLVIII® compliments of TEAM Coalition and the NFL.
At MetLife Stadium, 931 NFL fans pledged to be responsible by promising to respect the legal drinking age, enjoy responsibly/know when to say when, and always be or use a designated driver. Four lucky winners were recognized as Responsible Fans of the Game for Super Bowl XLVIII, receiving prize packs containing Super Bowl branded items, along with Bud Light and TEAM Coalition items.
Another prize was awarded to the Designated Driver for the Season from the Chicago Bears - Coleen Peppin. Ms. Peppin received a trip to the 2014 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, HI.
"Fans who pledge to be designated drivers are critical to the success of the Responsibility Has Its Rewards campaign," said Jill Pepper, executive director of TEAM Coalition. "Teamwork is exactly what this campaign is all about. Through this program, we are demonstrating that when everyone - including the fans - takes responsibility, everyone wins."
"Anheuser-Busch has led our industry in promoting responsible drinking for more than 30 years. Bud Light Good Sport, which reminds adult fans who choose to drink, to do so responsibly and get their friends home safely, is one of our most visible programs" said Kathy Casso, vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility at Anheuser-Busch. "We all share the same streets after the game. This partnership with the National Football League, participating stadiums, concessionaires, TEAM Coalition and football fans displays our collective responsibility to help keep our roads safe." Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers promote responsible drinking among football fans by implementing Bud Light Good Sport fan responsibility programs in 26 NFL stadiums throughout the season.
"The positive contributions made by TEAM are far reaching. Its mission is important to fans and spectators in stadiums, but its message also contributes to responsible conduct in our communities at large. The NFL strongly supports the TEAM program, and we are proud to be a member of the TEAM Coalition," said Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the National Football League.
About TEAM Coalition:
TEAM Coalition is an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, stadium service partners, the beer industry, distillers, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports and entertainment facilities. TEAM's members and supporters include the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, National Collegiate Athletic Association, ARAMARK, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Ovations Food Services, Beer Institute, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors, Brown-Forman, 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. www.TEAMCoalition.org.
About Anheuser-Busch:
For more than three decades, Anheuser-Busch and its nationwide network of wholesalers have invested more than $980 million in national advertising campaigns and community-based programs to promote responsible drinking, prevent underage drinking and drunk driving and address college issues. For more information on these alcohol responsibility efforts and the progress being made, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.
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