10th Anniversary HERO Dinner Held in Atlantic City

750 Supporters and Prominent National
Figures Support Designated Driver Program

VIDEOS

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Atlantic City, NJ - The tenth anniversary HERO Dinner in remembrance of Navy Ensign John Elliott attracted 750 supporters to the Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Resort here on Thursday, July 22, 2010. The dinner, sponsored by the John R. Elliott Foundation, benefited the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers® and the Ensign John R. Elliott Character Excellence Fund at the United States Naval Academy. The event featured messages form notable national figures including former First Lady Laura Bush, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Hollywood producer Chris Moore, and in-person presentations by nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis and Miss Pennsylvania 2010 Courtney Thomas.

New Jersey State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes, and CAPT James Campbell, from the U.S. Naval Academy Character and Leadership Program gave keynote presentations. John’s friends from the USNA Class of 2000 joined his sister Jennifer in providing poignant and humorous reminiscences of Ensign Elliott, who lost his life in a head-on collision with a drunken driver in July, 2000.

Ten years later, the HERO Campaign established in his memory has grown into a national movement in his memory, and a major force in the battle against drunk driving.

Four states have signed on to support the HERO Campaign, along with the United States Navy, professional sports teams—including the Philadelphia Phillies--and some high-profile friends who want to help the HERO Campaign become a household name in the near future.

In addition to Mrs. Bush, Carl Lewis, Chris Moore and Senator Menendez, Miss Pennsylania 2010 Courtney Thomas and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty pledged their support for the HERO Campaign. The program promotes the use of safe and sober designated drivers to prevent drunken driving tragedies, which claim more than 15,000 American lives annually and injure 135,000 more. In New Jersey, 117 people were killed in alcohol-related accidents in 2009, according to figures from the New Jersey State Police.

Speaking at the dinner, Colonel Fuentes noted, "For years, we have placed Hero Campaign decals on our 3,000 patrol vehicles because we believe that designated drivers save lives. We applaud the Elliotts for their efforts.”

CAPT Campbell described the Capstone Officership Character and Leadership Seminars which provide advanced training for all senior midshipmen at the Naval Academy, in memory of Ensign Elliott, who was selected the outstanding HERO (Human Education Resource Officer) of his graduating class at the Academy.

Moore, who produced the Academy Award-winning film Good Will Hunting, lost a close friend in a drunken driving incident. He joins the HERO Campaign from Hollywood to help spread the HERO message nationally that being a designated driver is both "cool" and important.

At the dinner, the Elliotts premiered new Designated HERO commercials filmed at the Philadelphia Phillies’ Citizens Bank Park, featuring John Tronolone, a student at Monmouth University, and Miss Delaware 2006, Jamie Ginn.

A public service television commercial featuring footage of John and his family at his Naval Academy graduation has been broadcast nationally by the Ad Council and the Department of Transportation as part of the Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk ad series. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Elliott family its 2008 Public Service Award for the HERO Campaign.

"You have made being a designated driver cool," noted former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, whose state became the 3rd HERO State in 2008. Governor Pawlenty has offered to make Minnesota the 5th HERO State. Former Governor Jon Corzine declared New Jersey the first HERO State in 2006, followed by Delaware, Virginia and New York. States adopting the program offer to promote its message-- Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver-- through highway billboards, educational programs in schools and colleges, and in bars and taverns that display HERO posters and offer free soft drinks to designated drivers.

In 2008, the United States Navy Fleet Forces Command adopted the HERO Campaign nationwide. A Monmouth University Poll in 2008 found that 1 in 5 New Jersey residents know of the HERO Campaign and more than 93 percent strongly support the campaign’s mission.

The Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants and Jets, the New England Patriots, and Live Nation are HERO Campaign partners, and host HERO Booths to sign up hundreds of designated drivers at home games and music concerts. Nationally, Clear Channel Outdoors and other companies donate highway billboards to promote the HERO Campaign message.

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