(Black PR Wire) Winners of the Drive It Home Trash-Off Greek and Club Challenge have been announced as part of the Earth Day 2015 celebrations. The Challenge, a part of the Great American Clean-up initiative, was created by the Florida Department of Transportation’s “DRIVE IT HOME ... KEEP OUR PARADISE LITTER-FREE®” campaign. Entries from students representing various greek and social clubs from accredited colleges and universities participated.

“This has been an exciting and invigorating initiative and we are thrilled to have received such a positive response from the college students,” says Bernadette Morris, a member of the Drive it Home marketing and outreach team. “The participants submitted thought-provoking and engaging entries. They were eager to be involved and we plan to create future competitions that will continue to build on this momentum to keep our paradise litter-free.”

Winners of the Drive It Home Trash-Off Greek and Club Challenge are as follows:

• First Place ($1,000 gift card)* – University of Florida - Gospel Choir Club
• Second Place ($500 gift card)* – Johnson and Wales University - Alpha Sigma Tau JWU N. Miami.
• Third Place ($250 gift card)* – University of Florida – Nu Chapter of Sigma Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc

The first and second place winners topped well over 1,000 likes each; and third place winner came in with nearly 500 likes. All three winning’ entries were photos of roadsides and/or beach clean ups with a clear message of their dedication and determination to uphold a litter-free community.

The Drive It Home team will make the official awards presentations to the three winners in Gainesville and North Miami on Earth Day. Tapings of the awards presentation will be posted on YouTube and placed on the CleanFLroads website.

Participants of the Drive It Home Trash-Off Greek and Club Challenge included:
• Barry University – Library Clean Up
• Broward College – “Don’t” Poster
• Broward College – “Dr. Who Video” Montage
• Broward College – Social Sciences Group “Expressive Poem”
• Florida A&M University - Recycle4Haiti Foundation Club
• Florida International University – Growth of Leadership, Academics and Diversity in Ecological Science (GLADES) Club
• Florida International University – Garden Club
• Florida Memorial University – “Sir Swoop”
• Florida State University – PanHellenic Council Steppers
• Johnson & Wales University – Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority “Beach CleanUp”
• PRSSA Clubs – “Girl Power”
• University of Central Florida - Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions (i.D.E.A.S.) Club “Clean Up Everybody Everywhere!” Prezi Presentation
• University of Florida – Gospel Choir
• University of Florida - Sigma Phi Lambda Sorority

Each participant will receive a Certificate of Appreciation and Trash-Off Greek & Club Challenge Backpack. To view the entries, visit www.Facebook.com/CleanFLroads.

The state’s official Roadside Litter Prevention Education (RLPE) Media Campaign aims to reduce the incidence of littering on Florida highways, promote pride in the beauty of Florida’s landscapes and educate Florida motorists about the dangers and hazards of roadside litter. Built around the theme, “DRIVE IT HOME . . . KEEP OUR PARADISE LITTER-FREE®,” the campaign enlists professional and amateur athletes from a variety of sports, who appear in various media outlets including radio, television, outdoor and newsprint.

The campaign seeks to educate Floridians and visitors on litter issues and change their behavior by leveraging the influence of athletes portrayed in a high-visibility multi-media campaign with television, radio and outdoor advertising components, as well as community events. The primary audience focus for the campaign will include driving motorists between the ages of 15 – 35.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is an executive agency, which reports directly to the Governor. FDOT’s primary statutory responsibility is to coordinate the planning and development of a safe, viable and balanced state transportation system serving all regions of the state, and to assure the compatibility of all components, including multimodal facilities. The multimodal transportation system includes roadway, air, rail, sea, spaceports, bus transit, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. FDOT has the multi-year Roadside Litter Prevention Education (RLPE) Media Campaign in an effort to support the beauty of Florida and maintain a place that residents can be proud of every day, every year.

For details and more information on the Drive It Home Trash-Off Greek and Club Challenge, contact Bernadette Morris of Sonshine Communications at (305) 948-8063, ext. 201 or visit www.CleanFLroads.com.

*All prizes are donated and are not state or federal funds or contract dollars.