Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) Welcomes Brandon Silveria to Encourage Teens To 'Make...

Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) Welcomes Brandon Silveria to Encourage Teens To
'Make The Right Choice' During Prom and Graduation Season

Nationally recognized speaker visits Bridgeport to discuss the consequences of
drunk driving and underage drinking with students

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) and
The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by
distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, brought
a life-saving lesson about the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking
to students at Warren Harding High School today. Brandon Silveria and his
father Tony spoke to students about the importance of "making the right
choice" about alcohol, and that if students are under the age of 21, the only
responsible decision is not to drink. Brandon is a young man who was involved
in an alcohol-related crash at age 17 just before his high school prom.

"As an EMT, every major auto accident I responded to involved alcohol, and
sometimes, fatalities resulted," said Congressman Himes. "I implore these
young people and their friends to keep alcohol off the roads. I welcome
Brandon and Tony Silveria to Connecticut and am proud to have them with us
today to communicate their life-saving message."

"In Connecticut in 2007, 98 youths under age 18 were arrested for driving
under the influence and 310 youths were arrested for liquor law violations,"
said Leslie Kimball of The Century Council. "The goal of Brandon's
presentation is to raise awareness about this serious problem and help our
youth to make the right choice about alcohol. I'm pleased we were invited to
Bridgeport today, and I am hopeful that Brandon and Tony's words will resonate
with the students."

Also in attendance at today's presentation were representatives from
Norwalk-based Diageo (NYSE: DEO). "Diageo employees want to make sure our
products stay out of the hands of youth under twenty-one and we know that
educating them about the dangers of underage drinking can help. Diageo is
proud to support Brandon and The Century Council," said Guy Smith, Executive
Vice President, Diageo North America. Brandon and his father, Tony, will also
be presenting their life saving message at Diageo's corporate headquarters
later today.

During the presentation, Brandon told students his wrenching story of how, as
a high school student, he had everything a teenager could want - a job, a
girlfriend and plans for the future - until he had a few drinks at a party and
chose to drive home. After falling asleep at the wheel, crossing the
centerline and crashing into a tree, he was left in a coma for three months
and spent several years in rehabilitation. Brandon was so badly injured that
basic motor functions such as walking, talking and swallowing had to be
re-learned. He has permanent brain injury and suffers from dangerous
seizures. Brandon's presentations continue to receive standing ovations from
students across the country.

"What you become depends on the choices that you make," said Brandon. "When I
was 17, I had a job and a girlfriend. Because of my crash, I lost both of
them. My hope is that by sharing my experiences with other young people, I
can prevent others from being hurt or killed."

Through educational efforts such as the Silveria lecture and video program,
The Century Council educates students across the country about the hazards of
underage drinking and driving. Since Brandon and his father Tony have become
spokespeople for The Century Council, they have addressed well over three
million high school students nationwide and have been featured on such
television programs as "Rescue 911," NBC's "Today," as well as media outlets
across the country.

The Century Council is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to
fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. Founded in 1991, The Century
Council is funded by distillers.

For more information on The Council and its mission, please log onto
www.centurycouncil.org.

Contact: Matthew B. Harakal
The Century Council
(202) 637-0077

SOURCE The Century Council

Matthew B. Harakal of The Century Council, +1-202-637-0077