MADD and Nationwide Launch "Prom Promise" Campaign to Help Parents Prevent Underage Drinking This Prom Season

The campaign, sponsored by Nationwide, provides parents with tools and resources for lifesaving conversations with teens

IRVING, Texas, April 7, 2025 -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD), in partnership with National Presenting Sponsor, Nationwide, announces the launch of the 2025 "Prom Promise" campaign, a powerful initiative to prevent underage alcohol and substance use during prom season. Funded exclusively by Nationwide, this initiative, alongside MADD's evidence-based Power of Parent's handbook, provides families with essential tools to engage teens in open, honest conversations about the risks of underage drinking and substance use.

At the heart of the Prom Promise campaign is MADD's Prom Promise Contract — an agreement parents and teens sign together to commit to a safe, substance-free prom night. Through this pledge, families establish clear expectations, boundaries, and a shared understanding of the serious risks associated with underage substance use and impaired driving. The contract fosters open communication, trust, and accountability, helping teens recognize the lasting impact of their choices.

"Prom is a big milestone in a teen's life, and we want to ensure it's both safe and memorable," said MADD CEO Stacey D. Stewart. "The Prom Promise campaign gives parents and guardians the opportunity to have lifesaving conversations with their teens about the importance of making safe choices on prom night. With Nationwide's support, MADD is equipping families with resources that empower teens to make decisions that prioritize their safety and future."

"Nationwide is honored to continue our long-standing collaboration with MADD on the Power of Parents program, which provides parents and guardians with resources to discuss the dangers of underage drinking and drug use with their children," said MADD National Board Member Natalie Furniss, lead legal counsel for Nationwide's Corporate Operations & Litigation Legal team. "As a company dedicated to protecting individuals, businesses and futures with extraordinary care, ensuring the safety of drivers and passengers on our nation's roadways remains a top priority and aligns with our core values."

Underage drinking is responsible for approximately 4,300 deaths each year and can lead to early addiction as well as many other dangerous outcomes, according to the CDC. Kids who start drinking young are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash, according to the NIH. In addition, NHTSA reports that car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens, and almost a third of young drivers killed in fatal crashes involved underage drinking. In 2022, 30% of young drivers 15 to 20 years old who were killed in crashes had BACs of .01 g/dL or higher.

As part of MADD's commitment to prevention, the Prom Promise campaign complements MADD's comprehensive suite of programs that empower parents, youth, and communities to combat underage substance use and impaired driving.

The Power of Parents program equips parents and guardians of middle and high school students to engage in meaningful, ongoing conversations about the dangers of underage drinking and substance use. Developed in collaboration with Robert Turrisi, Ph.D., Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State's Prevention Research Center, the evidence-based Power of Parents Handbook provides parents with proven strategies for these crucial discussions. A five-year evaluation by Dr. Turrisi and his team demonstrated that when parents used the handbook's strategies, their teens were more likely to refuse rides from drivers under the influence and less likely to drive impaired themselves.

To learn more about the Power of Parents Program, MADD's Prom Promise campaign or download the Prom Promise Contract visit madd.org/power-of-parents. Together, MADD and Nationwide are committed to supporting families in fostering a culture of safety, respect, and positive decision-making during prom season and beyond. By helping parents and teens engage in these critical conversations, we can help create safer communities and a brighter future for the next generation.

About MADD
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving for good. Since 1980, MADD has helped reduce drunk driving deaths in America by nearly 40%, saved more than 475,000 lives, and served more than one million victims and survivors. The organization is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Act that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit https://madd.org/ and follow MADD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified financial services and insurance organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

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SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)