Celebrity Guests, And California Highway Patrol To Make Appearances At Concert With A Cause

Former Oakland Raider, Olympian, Jr. World Cup Champion, Cadet National Champion, Nationally Ranked Fencers, Celebrity Guests, And California Highway Patrol To Make Appearances At Concert With A Cause

Donnie Ellis, Mihai Covaliu, Ian Jones, Ryan and Morgan Jenkins, and Cherri Bomb Join Text Kills® Team at the K-JAM Tomorrow To Show Support For Distracted Driving And Text-Bullying Awareness

 Text Kills®, which was formed in 2010 as an outgrowth of Iconosys' grass roots efforts to raise awareness for its crusade against texting while driving and text-bullying, has a wrapped RV that has made several cross-country community outreach trips, amassing over 75,000 signatures of concerned citizens pledging to do everything they can to refrain from texting behind the wheel, and promising to not being a text-bully. Text Kills® is excited to announce the newest pledge on the bus from Donnie Ellis, who coaches football at Aliso Niguel High School and is a former Oakland Raider who has coached for the last 18 years at various schools. He is also a certified personal trainer who has coached strength and conditioning at Soka Univeristy in Aliso Viejo for the past ten years.
Donnie Ellis has accepted the position of becoming the newest Text Kills® Ambassador and addition to the Text Kills® Team. Ellis attended Istrouma Senior High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, earning All-District and All-Parish distinctions for his athletics. He also attended the University of Southwest Louisiana and Louisiana State University before going on to play for the Oakland Raiders. His nephew, BenJarvus Green-Ellis (nicknamed "The Law Firm" for his conglomerate of names), whom he personally trained, was New England Patriots running back, and now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Ellis enjoys working with local youth both on and off the field, and is a married father of three children.
"I'm honored to have been asked to be part of the Text Kills Team," said Ellis. "Sharing their message through this K-Jam concert sounds like a fun idea, and I'm excited to help where I can."
Ellis joins the Text Kills® Team, which is a group of supporters, including locals Ryan and Morgan Jenkins (nationally ranked fencers), and Connor De Phillippi (Porsche Factory Team racing driver), who help to spread the message of distracted driving and bullying. Text Kills® is also excited to announce fencers Mihai Covaliu and Ian Jones, who are recent additions to the Text Kills® Team, and who will be at the event on Saturday to show support.
Mihai Covaliu's resume is extensive. He is Olympic and World Champion, as well as European Champion. After winning his second Olympic medal in Beijing 2008, Mihai retired from competitive fencing. He is now the Head Coach of the Romanian National team. His students are the 2009 Men's Sabre Team World Champions and 2012 London Olympics silver medalists.
Ian Jone, who trains out of Laguna Fencing Center, in is 16 years old and has been fencing for more than 7 years. He is multiple National Finalist and Junior World Cup finalist. Most recently, Ian won the 2013 Junior Olympics and is the current Cadet National Champion.
We just got confirmation that Nia and Rena Lovelis of the band Cherri Bomb will also be in attendance! They can be available for autographs and photos as well. They have quite a large fan following and always attract a crowd wherever they go.
Text Kills® believes that it is important to get celebrities and athletes involved in their cause, as it makes people, especially youth, more inclined to hear their message of personal responsibility and safe driving practices. Additional celebrities and public officials have also been sent VIP invitations to the event, including actor/skateboarder Ryan Sheckler, Laguna Niguel Mayor Robert Ming, and Mission Viejo Mayor Rhonda Reardon.
Text Kills® also believes that enlisting public officials in their mission can have the same impact, which is why they have secured the California Highway Patrol as an event sponsor. The CHP sees the concert as an effective means of spreading safe driving practices amongst teens and curbing some of the tragic accidents that they encounter far too often.
"I think that reaching out to teen drivers through this rock concert is a unique and creative way to deliver this important message to the age group that is statistically most prone to distracted driving," said Chris Goodwin, Public Information Officer for the California Highway Patrol.
Added Captain Amy Mangan, "It is great to see the youth come together to spread the message of driving safely and making a pledge to not engage in distracted driving."
Attendees will have the opportunity to challenge CHP officers to Rock, Paper, Scissors and see if they can outplay an officer of the law in a fun and friendly environment. Text Kills® will also have some of their popular distracted driving simulators, including a virtual, and remote controlled driving while being distracted.
The Text Kills® K-JAM Wild Hearts concert follows the success of last year's original KJAM event, which was also at the Kaleidoscope. The K-JAM concert series was created by Text Kills® to encourage youth community involvement through music by providing a positive environment that also educates them on the dangers of texting while driving and text-bullying. Text Kills® believes that getting teens to carry this message to other teens increases its impact and reach, which is why teenage bands were chosen to perform. Attendees will also be encouraged to sign the Text Kills® Tour Bus, making a pledge not to engage in texting while driving or text-bullying.
The event takes place on Saturday, February 23 from 6:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M at the Kaleidoscope Center in Mission Viejo, CA. Tickets cost $10 at the door, with limited VIP passes available for $20 that grant special stage viewing, an event poster signed by the bands, and a backstage pass. A portion of the event's proceeds will be donated to Text Kills® to help fund their nationwide trek to put an end to distracted driving and make the roads safer for everybody.
Tickets can be purchased at the Kaleidoscope and at www.kjamconcert.eventbrite.com