addByline("Kelsey Keena","Celtics.com","Celtics");
LOWELL, Mass. – Sal’s Pizza and the Boston Celtics are collaborating for the third consecutive year to give local youth the opportunity to star in a public service announcement, in an effort to motivate viewers to take action around a given social cause.
“Sal's Pizza and the Boston Celtics have teamed up to raise awareness on major issues that have impacted our communities, such as hunger and cancer,” Sal’s Pizza CEO Sal Lupoli recently stated on the history of the partnership’s community platform. “This year we are focusing on texting and driving to create a campaign where children are the voice for their families and surrounding community.”
The first to lend their voices to the digital campaign were students from McAvinnue Elementary School in Lowell, Mass.
Over the course of three weeks, the youth worked together to research statistics regarding the dangers of texting while driving, before drafting up a storyboard and script. The students then met with the film’s director and creative lead and made the vision come to life by capturing the alarming realities of distracted driving.
Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko and mascot Lucky joined Sal’s Pizza Vice President of Business Development Mike Lupoli to premiere the PSA Tuesday afternoon at a schoolwide viewing party for the McAvinnue community.
The special guests spoke to the youth-packed gymnasium about the power of using their voice to influence change, no matter one’s age.
“Remember to treat others the way you would like to be treated,” instructed Jerebko.
After the brief speaking portion, Jerebko announced he had a surprise for the school.
“I got something here,” stated Jerebko as he reached into his pocket. “I don’t know if you guys want to go to a game, but I brought tickets for all of you!”
The crowd immediately rejoiced in excitement upon hearing Jerebko’s announcement, and that energy kept flowing right into a highflying Lucky dunk show.
Then it was time to reveal the PSA the student council worked so diligently on.
“It is a huge problem; I see it every day,” said Jerebko on witnessing fellow drivers texting on the road. “After that video I got goosebumps. Just an amazing video these kids put together for an amazing cause.”
Check out the PSA live on the Teaming Up Against Texting and Driving homepage on Celtics.com!