MADD Names New National President Helen Witty
At the end of 2018, MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Churched turned over the “keys” to the position to Helen Witty, a longtime volunteer and employee. Colleen served four years as national president, and MADD appreciates her dedication, advocacy and the compassion for victims she showed during her tenure. We will always remember and honor Dustin, her 18-year-old son who was killed in a drunk driving crash on July 10, 2004. “Being the voice of our victims and traveling the country for four years has been the honor of a lifetime and I will remember every moment with MADD,” Colleen said. In December, MADD welcomed Helen to her new role and learned more about what brought her to MADD. Helen’s daughter, Helen Marie, was killed while rollerblading on a bike path on a sunny afternoon on June 1, 2000. Helen Marie was 16.
Outgoing MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church hands the "key" to MADD to incoming National President Helen Witty in December 2018.
“I came to MADD in the months after Helen Marie died a sudden, violent death
by an alcohol- and marijuana-impaired teen driver. We faced a grief so profound it hardly seemed survivable,” Helen said. “I cannot fully explain all that MADD gave to me. At the most basic level, they provided information. At the most profound, the inspiring men and women who walked ahead of me showed me that I would survive the pain. They showed me that one day, I might even smile again. They gave me the priceless gift of hope.” MADD’s National Presidents are the spokespeople for the organization. They travel across the country to honor law enforcement officers at recognition ceremonies, participate in Walk Like MADD events, advocate at the state and federal level for stronger laws and represent the nearly 1 million victims MADD has served since 1980. They share with us their darkest days and show us what survivors look like. We are forever grateful.
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