MADD

MADD Virginia E-Newsletter                                                        November 2024

Walk Like MADD Richmond 2024

Walk Like MADD Richmond took place on September 28, 2024. Participants made signs to honor their loves ones who lost their lives due to impaired driving and walked 3 miles around Dorey Park in Henrico, Virginia. Thank you to every participant and volunteer who helped make Walk Like MADD Richmond a success. We would also like to thank everyone who donated to Walk Like MADD Richmond. We were able to raise over $36,000 which will be used to help end impaired driving.

 

Thank you again to all our Walk Like MADD Richmond 2024 sponsors! Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Richmond Ford, as well as Walmart; Enterprise Mobility; Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen; Siddall; Channel 6; Track Surveillance & Investigative Services; Criswell Ford; and Office Noah A. Leotta Foundation.

 

For more photos of the event, click here.

 

 

Thanksgiving Eve

 

 

On Thanksgiving Eve, also known as “Drinksgiving” or “Blackout Wednesday,” there is an increase in the overconsumption of alcohol. “In 2022, 100 drivers were involved in fatal traffic crashes on Thanksgiving Eve (6 p.m. November 23 to 5:59 a.m. November 24)” Source. If you are choosing to go out to drink on Thanksgiving Eve, make sure you plan ahead for a safe ride home and remember that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

There are plenty of options to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. By working together, we can save lives and help keep America’s roadways safe. Spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving to friends and family members during the holiday weekend to make sure everyone stays safe on the road.

Impaired Driving Stories in the News

Intoxicated Driver Crashes at 2nd Street Festival

Woman Sentenced to 12 Years

Loved Ones Find Relief at Sentencing

18-year-old Arrested

Speed and Alcohol Factors in Crash

Virginia Woman Charged with DUI Manslaughter

Woman Sentenced in DUI Crash That Killed VDOT Worker

Widow of VDOT Worker Killed in Crash Reflects

Car Crashes into Boulevard Burger and Brew. Driver Suspected of Impaired Driving.

Police Investigate Fatal Crash- Alcohol Believed Factor

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/daryl-eavey-arrest-oct-14-2024

 

Victim Services Note from Isabelle Rhinehart:

Are you interested in sharing your story? Some find it beneficial in their healing journey to share their story with others and the impact impaired driving has in their life. We have volunteer opportunities that will accommodate your schedule so whether you have availability a couple times a year or a couple times a week, we are the place for you! We also have many ways to share your story so you can choose what is most comfortable for you. This includes thanking law enforcement at their sobriety checkpoint briefings for keeping our roads safe, training as a Help Line Volunteer, sharing your story at events, schools, and other organizations or signing up for our walk and raising funds towards our mission. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please reach out to me at [email protected].

 

Calendar

12/18/24 – MADD Mid-Atlantic Monthly Virtual Support Group via Teams at 1:00 pm

Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Y2MxYTNjMzUtMzliOC00MjMxLTk5YzAtNTAyOGIyOWQ2ZDY3%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224d97059f-5f7e-491b-8c1e-8ff3eb6788c0%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2222915ade-a357-4b63-8e39-1cd970b88a11%22%7d

Meeting ID: 280 741 999 050

Passcode: 5pBQBK

 

It is with a heavy heart that we share that Jeffrey Levy died on Monday, September 30th 2024.

Sharing this message from the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, where Jeff Served on the Board.

“Jeff, a victim of drunk driving having lost his son in 1997 in an impaired driving crash in Virginia, was a most active member of not only WRAP’s voluntary leadership but also that of both MADD National’s (and local’s) as well as Virginia College Parents which he founded. In 2004, Jeff’s “admirable work in the region’s youth communities to combat underage drinking and drunk driving” was recognized by WRAP when he received the organization’s Youth Leadership Award.

 

That same year, Jeff was also named as the recipient of MADD-National’s prestigious Jean Moorhead Duffy Award – an honor presented for accomplishments in promoting the passage of key underage drinking and or drunk driving countermeasures in a state. The MADD award specifically referenced his spearheading of Virginia’s then recent passage of what has been hailed as some of the nation’s toughest drunken driving laws.

 

On a personal note, Jeff, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, was the consummate fighter whose imprint in the prevention community via his well-known and admired community service rightfully loomed large. He will be sorely missed.”

 

Our condolences to, and prayers for, Jeff’s family.

MADD Around Virginia

MADD Virginia exhibited with partner, DriveSafe Hampton Roads, at an Old Dominion University Health and Safety event

MADD Virginia’s, Cristi Cousins, at Virginia State University’s Campus Safety Day.

 

MADD Mid-Atlantic’s Program Manager, Jennifer Hamilton, was the guest speaker at Community Coalitions of Virginia conference.

 

This newsletter is supported by a federal highway safety grant administered by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

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