For The National Road Safety Foundation, we promote the annual Drive2Life PSA Contest, which invites teens to give us their ideas for public service messages on safe driving issues.
This was the tenth year of the contest, which we developed, bringing in media partners Scholastic and Teen Kids News. The theme this year was seat belt safety.
Out of nearly 1,200 entries, we selected a concept by Florida teen Madison Henry. She won $1,000.
Normally, in addition to the cash prize, the NRSF brings the winner to New York to work for 3 days with the Emmy-winning producers of nationally-syndicated "Teen Kids News" -- Alan Weiss Productions -- to script, shoot and edit the concept into a finished 30-second spot that airs on some 200 TV stations nationwide.
This year, the coronavirus pandemic made travel to New York impossible so the resourceful TKN team, led by director Alan Weiss and producer Marilou Yacoub, worked with Madision to produce the spot virtually. Through countless zoom calls, Madison, Alan and Marilou worked with actors and crew in six locations in four states - New York, Connecticut, Florida and Texas.
After we saw the finished spot Tuesday morning, we arranged for Madison to show it live on "Good Morning Orlando" on FOX35, serving her hometown of Melbourne, Fla. She also got a shout-out on a popular morning radio show and the local newspaper will be doing a story on her soon.
Great work, Madison.