2021 MADDvocate

“I am in awe of the war room. I’m so proud of all of them and what they’ve done and not giving up and sharing their stories and their hearts to spare others pain. I can’t tell you what it’s done for me. There’s still people out there willing to get in the trenches and fight despite the opposition. It’s almost like when this was introduced, the thought of this was a dream, but it’s going to come to fruition. It’s just amazing how many people are going to be spared that heartache. Those of us who have been here for so long, we gave the information, we told people not to drink and drive but this is really going to prevent it. The love and the bond we have with victims is immediate, but soon we won’t have all those victims. I’m thinking about so many of those thousands of victims over the years. I can see their faces and if only the technology had been available. Most people thought nothing would happen during Covid, but the war room just kept on fighting. Who would have ever dreamed of that war room? We have always fought the war on drunk driving but really did this time.” - Millie Webb, MADD National President from 2000-2002. Millie and her husband Roy suffered severe burns and injuries in a drunk driving crash that killed their 4-year-old daughter Lori and 19-month-old nephew, Mitchell Pewitt, Jr., and caused their daughter Kara to be born prematurely and legally blind. Their crash occurred August 14, 1971. “I’m new to MADD and wasn’t aware of the war room concept or the potential power of the war room. As I saw the shared commitment during the meetings, and then participated in Member meetings with other MADD warriors, I saw the power of the war room in action. It was the right group at the right time. Wow!” – Ken Snyder, whose 37-year-old daughter Katie was killed by a drunk driver on Oct. 6, 2017. “I was inspired to observe so many individuals who have been victimized turn their pain into power. They doubled down with their passion to do what was needed to get the HALT and RIDE Acts accomplished.” – Jan Withers, MADD National President from 2011-2014. Her 15-year-old daughter Alisa Joy was killed in a drunk driving crash on April 16, 1992. “MADDvocates working together, from across the entire country, generated an excitement and hope in MADD’s efforts to end impaired driving that we had not seen in years.” – Wendy Hamilton, MADD National President from 2002-2005. Her 32-year-old sister Becky and 22-month- old nephew Timmy were killed by a drunk driver on September 19, 1984.

Jan Withers, Past MADD National President

Alisa Joy Withers, daughter of Jan Withers

Wendy Hamilton, Past MADD National President

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