Michael Leven, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Aquarium, Joins Fuel Freedom Foundation's Board of Advisors

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 17, 2015) -  Fuel Freedom Foundation today announced that Michael Leven, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Georgia Aquarium, and a longtime supporter of philanthropic endeavors, has joined Fuel Freedom Foundation's Board of Advisors.

Fuel Freedom Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is working to reduce the cost of driving your existing car by opening the market to cheaper fuel choices at the pump. Achieving this goal will mean accelerated economic growth, greater energy security, reduced air pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved health.

Mr. Leven currently is chairman and chief executive officer of the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. He previously served as CEO of the Aquarium from 2008 to 2009 before leaving for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead the Las Vegas Sands Corporation as President and Chief Operating Officer. He retired from that post at the end of 2014.

"I am delighted to be a part of the Fuel Freedom Foundation team," Leven said. "I've been following what the organization has been working toward and am very eager to help the foundation's goal of breaking America's oil addiction."

Mr. Leven has more than half a century of experience in the hospitality business, and a long record of success. After serving as president of several hotel chains, including Days Inn of America and Holiday Inn Worldwide, Michael started his own company, US Franchise Systems, Inc., which franchised the Microtel Inns & Suites and Hawthorn Suites brands.

Among his many charitable efforts, Mr. Leven served as the Vice Chairman of the Marcus Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, Inc. He also serves on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, the Birthright Israel Foundation, the Hersha Hospitality Trust, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

"I am happy to announce that Mike will be joining our Board of Advisors," said Yossie Hollander, Chairman and Co-Founder of Fuel Freedom Foundation. "He is a well-established figure that has taken part in many impressive campaigns over the years. We're very excited to have him join our board and help us with our cause of reducing the cost of transportation fuels."

Mr. Leven holds a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University and a Master of Science from Boston University. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate from The Johnson & Wales University and College of Hospitality and Tourism Management of Niagara University.

Please visit www.fuelfreedom.org to learn more about how you can join Fuel Freedom to get involved and help end America's addiction to oil.

About Fuel Freedom: Fuel Freedom Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to reduce the cost of driving your existing car or truck by opening the market to cheaper fuel choices at the pump. We believe that by creating permanent and sustainable conditions necessary to give gasoline competition at the pump, we can end our oil addiction in less than 10 years, saving Americans thousands of dollars each year. . In national terms, it means accelerated economic growth, greater energy security, reduced air pollution, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved health. Fuel Freedom provides a big break for Americans without increasing government spending. Americans have the right to drive for less.