Fort Lauderdale, FL – April 3, 2025 – In an effort to bring awareness of the dangers of impaired driving ahead of prom night and graduation, American Heritage Schools’ Students Against Destructive Decisions(SADD) Club at its Broward Campus hosted Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)’s impactful “Power of You(th)®” presentation on campus for 11th and 12th grade students on April 2. The assembly was organized by Harlee Ross, a senior at American Heritage Schools who also serves as the SADD Club president.
Drunk driving deaths have increased by 31% over the past decade with someone being killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 78 seconds. Drunk driving is a 100 percent preventable crime.
During the “Power of You(th)” presentation, American Heritage Schools’ seniors and juniors learned about the potentially deadly consequences of impaired driving. The DUI exposition featured a demonstration of what can happen if someone drives a car under the influence of drugs and alcohol. A DUI crashed car, provided by Guardian Fleet Services, was on campus for students to see first-hand examples of these dangers. Members from the Plantation Fire Department extracted mannequins from the mock car crash using the jaws of life tools while narrating the scene.
Notable executives from MADD were in attendance, including, Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort
Lauderdale Founder Heather Geronemus. Victims Bryan and Amani Criales shared their personal stories about how their lives changed in an instant because of a wrong-way crash. Students also heard impactful stories and words from Geronemus and Ross.
On Dec. 13, 2015, a drunk driver was driving the wrong way on I-95, causing a high-speed, head-on collision that shattered the Criales’ lives. Amani’s husband, Bryan Criales, was driving to the Fort Lauderdale airport with hisbeloved sister Carmen Criales and their mother. Upon collision, Carmen died instantly. The crash left their mother critically injured and Bryan in a coma with a severe traumatic brain injury. After two months, Bryan woke up, unable to do basic activities of daily living. He’s had to re-learn everything, from walking to eating to talking, without his sister by his side. Throughout the years, with the help of doctors, therapy and special facilities, Bryan has made tremendous progress in gaining independence and confidence.
American Heritage Schools’ SADD Club, which was founded by Alumnus Harrison Ross in 2020, is a peer-to-peer education, prevention and activism organization dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving and more.
“Power of You(th)” is one of MADD’s programs that provides youth with research-based information on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. It aims to prepare youth with the tools to resist peer pressure and empower them to take the next step and influence their friends to make the right choices.
“It is a great honor to work with MADD and our SADD Club to educate our students and bring awareness to the dangers of impaired and destructive driving, especially ahead of special life moments like prom and graduation,” said Dr. Doug Laurie, president of American Heritage Schools. “We are proud of our SADD Club students who helped organize this impactful presentation.”
“We are proud to work with American Heritage School’s SADD Club to once again host MADD’s Power of You(th) presentation on campus to educate students on the terrible tragedies that drunk driving causes,” said Geronemus. “This impactful presentation raises awareness and puts us one step closer to ending impaired driving, a 100 percent preventable crime.”
In South Florida, the local MADD affiliate’s annualWalk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K has raised more than $4 million since it was founded in 2011 by Heather Geronemus, whose late father, Dr. Robert Perry Geronemus, was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2009. The local Southeast Florida Chapter will host its 14thAnnual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K presented by the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County, which will take place onSunday, April 27. Thousands of walkers, runners, strollers, wheelchairs and supporters of all ages will come together in downtown Fort Lauderdale to raise awareness and funds to end impaired driving for good. The in-person race will start near Huizenga Plaza at 7:30 a.m., or supporters can also participate in a virtual option. American Heritage Schools’ SADD Club will attend and volunteer at the race.
About American Heritage Schools:
American Heritage Schools is a college preparatory day school for students in PK3-12th grades, known for academicexcellence and top rankings across multiple disciplines. With two 40-acre campuses, one in Broward County and another in Palm Beach County, American Heritage Schools provides a diverse and inclusive environment for almost 5,000 students from more than 100 countries. Dr. Douglas Laurie, a distinguished educator and visionary leader, is the president and co-owner of American Heritage Schools. American Heritage Schools is nationally and internationally accredited by the following associations: Association of Independent Schools of Florida (AISF), Middle States Association (MSA-CESS), and National Council for Private Schools, among others. The Lower School includes advanced classes and 15 electives, and the Upper School offers over 300 courses with 145 honors classes, 31 Advanced Placement classes, and 130 fine arts classes. Pre-professional programs are offered in pre-med, pre-law,pre-engineering, biomedical engineering, business & entrepreneurship, and computer science with classes taught daily by doctors, surgeons, lawyers, judges, engineers, and computer scientists currently practicing in their fields. American Heritage Schools was named No. 1 Private K-12 School in Florida and No. 1 College Prep Private High School in Florida, according to Niche.com, ranks as the No. 1 high school in Florida for the highest number of National Merit Scholars for 15 years, and the No. 1 school in Florida for the most Presidential Scholars. The Math Competition team is No. 1 out of all private schools in the nation, Model UN team is top 3 in the nation, and the Speech and Debate team is in the top 1% in the nation. In their recent “Book of Lists” rankings, South Florida Business Journal (SFBJ) recognized American Heritage Schools as No. 15 in Corporate Philanthropy in South Florida and No. 21 Largest Employer in South Florida.
For more information about American Heritage Schools, visit its website at www.ahschool.com
Broward Campus: (954) 472-0022 ext. 3021 or email [email protected].
Palm Beach Campus: (561) 495-7272 ext. 219 or email [email protected].
About MADD:
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving forgood. 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.
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