MADD launches 2017 “Tie One On for Safety” red ribbon holiday campaign with a 50-hour Facebook fundraiser, “Raise Against Time,” Nov. 7-8
Dallas – Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) and National Presenting Partner Nationwide are kick starting the 2017 Tie One On for Safety® red ribbon holiday campaign with a 50-hour Facebook fundraiser Nov. 7 and 8 in honor of the 10,497 people killed—one every 50 minutes—due to drunk driving crashes in 2016. The theme for this year’s holiday campaign is #HomeForHolidays, encouraging designated drivers to ensure everyone gets home safely for the holidays.
People can show their commitment to designating a non-drinking driver and support of law enforcement’s efforts to protect the roads by displaying a MADD red ribbon or decal on their vehicles available at local MADD offices across the country. Individuals and companies can order ribbons in bulk for a $25 donation and decals for a $35 donation at madd.org.
“This holiday season, I hope that everyone is able to make it home safe and sound,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church, whose 18-year-old son Dustin was killed in a teen drunk and drugged driving crash. “We can all take part in making our roads safer by designating a non-drinking driver if plans include alcohol.”
The holidays are one of the most dangerous times on our nation’s roadways, with more people traveling and an increased number of festivities where alcohol is served. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve in 2016, there were 891 drunk driving fatalities across the country, accounting for 26 percent of all traffic fatalities. Fatalities were down compared to 978 deaths in 2015 during the same time period, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
“We look forward to working alongside MADD once again to help reduce drunk driving this holiday season,” said Bill Windsor, Nationwide Associate Vice President of Consumer Safety. “We can all ‘Make Safe Happen’ by encouraging our family and friends to plan ahead before holiday parties to designate a non-drinking driver because we can save more lives.”
MADD thanks all law enforcement officers who will be working harder than ever this holiday season to protect the public from drunk driving during the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement crackdown period through high-visibility checkpoints and saturation patrols.
Visit MADD.org/toofs for Safe Party Tips and get your Tie One On for Safety red ribbon by contacting your local MADD office or visiting madd.org.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 350,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.
About Nationwide Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
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