DALLAS -

Cadillac dealers in the Lone Star state are teaming with 19 celebrities to kick off a statewide competition this week that will raise awareness and support for six Texas charities.

The Team Escalade Texas challenge will be comprised of six celebrity teams, each of which is paired with one of the charitable organizations. The contest begins Thursday and runs through Oct. 30.

Eighteen Cadillac dealers throughout Texas —  which is where Cadillac builds the Escalade — are lending their support to the campaign, officials noted.

During the competition, the Cadillac dealers — whose areas include the Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio markets — are creating public service announcement videos for each of the causes.

The participating charities include the following organizations: CureDuchenne, Gift for Life/Taylor’s Gift Foundation, Love Hope Strength, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Special Olympics Texas and the YMCA.  The dealers are also giving the charities paid media support and promoting the PSAs throughout the state.

Additionally, Cadillac is giving each of the teams a 2012 Escalade and is also helping to raise awareness about the charities.

As these videos begin circulating, the general public can vote for which charity they want to win. The winning charity will receive $150,000 worth of additional paid media support.

Serving as leader of the competition is Drew Pearson, formerly a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver. Pearson will go to all the participating markets, where he will attend events and conduct interviews.

The other 18 participating celebrities will be announced Thursday.

Each team will have three celebrities as well as a Dallas radio station and a Houston radio station for on-air support from station personalities.

More information can be found at http://www.teamescaladetexas.com.

The websites for the charities are:

CureDuchenne: http://www.cureduchenne.org

Gift for Life/Taylor’s Gift Foundation: http://www.taylorsgift.org

Love Hope Strength: http://www.lovehopestrength.org

Ronald McDonald House Charities:
Dallas: www.rmhdallas.org
Fort Worth: http://ftworthrmh.org
Houston: www.rmhhouston.org
San Antonio: www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse-sa.org

Special Olympics Texas: www.sotx.org

YMCA: www.ymca.net