Buick Gives Iconic Moments an Encore at NCAA® Final Four®

Wed, Mar 13 2013

ATLANTA – When 68 NCAA men’s basketball teams claim their places on the Championship bracket this weekend, all will be aiming for a trip to the 2013 Final Four in Atlanta. At the Atlanta Auto Show today, Buick kicked off its March Madness® involvement, which allows fans to relive their favorite tournament buzzer beaters and help Samaritan’s Feet.

Samaritan’s Feet
Today through Sunday at the Atlanta Auto Show, Buick will host a ride and drive highlighting the brand’s 2013 models, including the all-new Encore luxury small crossover and the redesigned Enclave luxury crossover. For every test drive taken, Buick will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need through its ongoing involvement with Samaritan’s Feet.

In conjunction with the 75th Celebration of March Madness, Samaritan’s Feet, Buick and the NCAA are leading an effort to help donate 75,000 pairs of shoes this year. Samaritan’s Feet is an official charity of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and is also designated by the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as its charitable affiliation for the year.

For the third consecutive year, Buick is supporting Samaritan’s Feet during Final Four week. Buick is working with the organization to distribute 7,500 pairs of shoes to benefit children in the greater Atlanta area.

Buick Human Highlight Reel
The Buick Human Highlight Reel is an online collection and archive of short videos featuring former NCAA student-athletes whose greatest victories occur away from the game, where they apply their passion to serving those in need. Samaritan’s Feet founder Manny Ohonme is among those who have been featured in the past.

This year’s new stories include that of Marc Buoniconti and the Miami Project. Marc, the son of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti, suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down while playing college football at The Citadel. Today, their Miami Project is the world’s most comprehensive spinal cord research center, with more than 250 scientists on staff.

Marc’s story will debut on March 17 at http://www.ncaa.com/buick.

Encore Performances
When the Final Four arrives at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome in April, the Ultimate Final Four® Fan Fest, Bracket Town, is expected to attract more than 50,000 basketball fans. The Buick Arena at Bracket Town will be active from April 4-8.

This year, Buick will celebrate the 75th Celebration of March Madness and the arrival of the 2013 Buick Encore with “Encore Performances” that will bring to life the greatest buzzer beater moments in tournament history. Fans will be able to view classic footage, then use steps marked on the floor to take a famous shot themselves. At the end, they’ll be able to view the two video clips side by side. Each successful shot will also result in a shoe donation to Samaritan’s Feet.

Buick to Go
Buick will offer free shuttles between downtown Atlanta and the Georgia Dome throughout Final Four weekend, allowing consumers to experience the brand’s quiet, comfortable luxury. And inside Bracket Town, fans will get a preview of the 2014 LaCrosse luxury sedan on display for the first time following its upcoming New York Auto Show debut. When the LaCrosse and the 2014 Regal arrive in showrooms later this year, every Buick model will be less than 20 months old.

Buick is a modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors with thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance. Buick is attracting new customers with its portfolio of award-winning luxury models, including the Enclave crossover, LaCrosse sedan, Regal sport sedan, Buick Verano sedan and the all-new 2013 Encore crossover. Learn more about Buick cars and crossovers at www.buick.com, on Twitter @buick, on Pinterest or at www.facebook.com/buick.

 

# # #