SILVER SPRING, Md.,
April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/
-- Toyota and Discovery Education announced today the top ten
finalists in the annual Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge, the
nation's premier teen safe driving program. Beginning today and
continuing for the next two weeks, these top ten inspirational
videos will appear online for public voting to not only determine
the grand prize winner, but to also send a national reminder about
the importance of safe teen driving.
Now in its third year, the Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge, a
key component of an ongoing partnership between Toyota and
Discovery Education, invites teens across the country to create
short videos to inspire their friends to drive more safely and
avoid distractions. Over 1,000 videos were submitted as part
of the challenge. The top ten finalists' videos, some humorous in
tone or others more poignant in nature, address unsafe driving
habits and how distracted driving can change lives forever.
For the next two weeks, the general public can visit
www.TeenDrive365.com to view the top ten videos and decide the
winner by voting for their favorite. The teen who garners the most
votes will win a $15,000 cash prize
and be given the opportunity to work with a Discovery film crew to
re-create their video as a professional, TV-ready PSA which is
eligible to air on Discovery's family of networks. The second place
prize is a $10,000 cash prize and a
behind-the-scenes trip for two to a Velocity Network show. The
third place prize is a $7,500 cash
prize.
"For over a decade, Toyota has offered programs and resources
that are designed to keep teens safe on the road," said
Latondra Newton, Chief Corporate
Social Responsibility Officer, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
"The Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge embodies our philosophy
that great, impactful ideas come from anyone, anywhere. We're
thrilled with the creative submissions we received from teens
across the country and congratulate our teen finalists."
"The Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge fosters student
collaboration, active research, and creative use of social media
and Web 2.0 tools as they develop short videos to express their
deepest concerns about safer driving and hopes that their peers
embrace driving responsibilities more seriously," said Mary McCullagh an educator at Christopher
Columbus High in Miami,
Fla.
Last year's winning video from Ryan
Johnston of Corona, Calif.
took a humorous look at what driving distractions may have looked
like a hundred years ago, while also sending a serious message to
teens about the importance of road safety. His re-created PSA
ran across Discovery's family of networks.
Toyota Teen Driver, a partnership between Toyota and Discovery
Education that offers free, online resources for teens, parents and
teachers, is part of TeenDrive365 (www.TeenDrive365.com), Toyota's
comprehensive initiative designed to help teens and families
navigate their teen's first years behind the wheel. Building on the
programs and resources Toyota has offered for more than a decade,
the program offers a collection of online tools, events, expert
advice and tips as well as social media elements.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM), the world's top
automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building
vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and
Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we've built more than
25 million cars and trucks in North
America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and
directly employ more than 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North
American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million cars and trucks in
2013 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the
past 20 years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the
country, with a focus on education, safety and the
environment. As part of this commitment, we share the
company's extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and
trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand
their ability to do good. To date, Toyota has contributed more than
$700 million to nonprofits in the
U.S. For more information about Toyota, visit
www.toyota.com/usa.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital
content and professional development for K-12, transforming
teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks,
multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core,
professional development, assessment tools, and the largest
professional learning community of its kind. Available in
over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges and in 50
countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with
districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate
students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with
customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement.
Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ:
DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in
the world. Explore the future of education at
www.discoveryeducation.com.
SOURCE Discovery Education