Press Release

MASTIC BEACH, NY —  Assemblyman Fred Thiele (2nd
Assembly District) and The Century Council partnered today to bring a
life-saving lesson about the dangers of drunk driving and underage
drinking to students in Mastic Beach and Center Moriches. Brandon
Silveria and his father Tony spoke to students at William Floyd High
School and Center Moriches High School about the importance of “making
the right choice” about alcohol – and for students who 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. The Century Council is a national
not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting
drunk driving and underage drinking.

“The most recent statistics available show that in 2005 there were
524 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in New York, 83 of these deaths
were among youth under 21 (NHTSA 2005),” said Assemblyman Thiele. “One
death is one too many. We must do more to keep the teens of New York
safe and alcohol-free. I am proud to have Brandon and Tony Silveria
with us today to communicate their life-saving message.”

“In New York, 285 youths under age 18 were arrested for driving
under the influence and 1,134 youths were arrested for liquor law
violations (UCR 2005),” said Erica Moutlon of The Century Council. “Our
goal with these presentations is to raise awareness about this serious
problem, and by doing so, save lives in New York. I’m pleased we were
invited to William Floyd High School and Center Moriches High School
today and I am hopeful that Brandon and Tony’s words will resonate with
the students.

During the presentation, Brandon Silveria 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 seventeen, 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 two 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.

To request a free copy of “Brandon Tells His Story” or for more
information on the Silveria program call (800) 431-4499. The 30-minute
video, which won an award from the American Medical Association, is
accompanied by supporting curriculum materials and can be used with
large or small groups of teens.

Brandon and Tony presented at:

Tuesday, October 16th< br/>
*William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, NY- 9:50 a.m.
*Center Moriches High School in Center Moriches, NY- 12:30 p.m.

The Century Council is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting
drunk driving and underage drinking. Founded in 1991, The Council is funded by distillers.
For more information on The Council and its mission, please log onto www.centurycouncil.org.