City, Uber Link with HERO Campaign

SEA ISLE CITY – A tragedy whose senselessness developed into purpose, hope, and meaning. “Get home safely,” said every time a child goes out the door by parents who realize the danger of driving among those who do not respect alcohol limits.
For Bill and Muriel Elliott a call at 4 a.m. that their son, John, just two months earlier commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy, had been killed in a Route 40 head-on collision by a drunk driver. Elliott had been headed home for his mother’s birthday.
The other driver had been arrested three hours earlier on driving under the influence charges and released. He got back into his SUV and hit Elliott’s car, dying along with the young man.
So from their loss, the Elliotts created a movement called the HERO Campaign, a movement that everyone can embrace.
To further the vision of the HERO Campaign, Mayor Leonard Desiderio held a press conference June 26 announcing a partnering initiative with Uber, the ride-sharing company, designed to make the roads safer for all.  
A large audience of officials and supporters, including many from Sea Isle City’s Police Department led by Chief Thomas D’Intino, the president of Sea Isle’s Jitney Association Dave Berry, a representative of United Drivers International Lance Zeaman, City Council member-elect J.P. Feely, City Solicitor Paul Baldini, meteorologist Dan Skeldon and numerous citizens attended the briefing to show the value they place on the HERO Campaign and its work. 
HERO Background
“We want to make sure through the HERO Campaign that no one ever gets that terrible phone call in the middle of the night that their child or loved one has been killed by a drunk driver.
“Our son, John, was a 2000 graduate of the Naval Academy and we established soon after his death July 22, 2000 the HERO Campaign in his honor to promote through many different means using designated drivers rather than drinking and trying to drive.
“This campaign is a tribute to John, who was serving our country at the time of his death and is now serving our country in a different way,” stated Bill Elliott.
While the organization’s name, HERO, stands for itself, it also has special meaning for the Elliotts.
John distinguished himself as a Human Education Resource Officer or HERO at the Naval Academy and was selected the outstanding HERO in his class.
Thus, the significance of his life is captured at many levels through the organization.
While the Elliotts were too humble to mention their son’s many achievements, his bio notes that he was a National Merit Scholar, class president, and a member of the football and tennis teams at Egg Harbor Township High School.
At Annapolis, he was a squad leader and platoon commander.
The Naval Academy established a character and leadership program to honor John’s accomplishments including being recognized as a peer advocate while a midshipman.
John is buried at Annapolis. The HERO Campaign is another way to further honor him and to help eliminate the most preventable form of death: that caused by a drunk driver.
Get Home Safely
Desiderio presented the key to Sea Isle City to the Elliotts. He noted, “Sea Isle City was the first shore community to have jitney service after Atlantic City. As a bar owner, myself, my number-one priority is making sure people get home safely. 
“We want Sea Isle to be a leader in preventing drunk driving and all its risks, not only within our community but throughout the state and country.
“This is why it’s an honor for us to bring the HERO Campaign and Uber together in Sea Isle. We all take very seriously this problem and the great turnout today for this event, including as many police officers as were free and our sheriff, demonstrates that both law enforcement as well as the public embrace this campaign and that we are paying attention to solving the problem.”
Supporting Sea Isle’s HERO and Uber partnership are new regulations passed by the NJ Legislature in February that strengthen consumer protection when using ride-share companies including better background checks and insurance provisions.    
Discount for Riders
A representative of Uber New Jersey, Craig Ewer, gave details about how the company will work with the campaign and Sea Isle City. “Starting today, June 26, the first 2,000 people to take the HERO Pledge to prevent drunk driving will receive a code valid for $10 off an Uber ride anywhere in the state. As part of Uber’s ongoing work with the HERO Campaign, nearly 500 Uber driver-partners took the HERO pledge last week, agreeing to be on the road whenever possible for nights and weekends when they are most needed to prevent drunk driving.”
Muriel Elliott summed up the sentiments of the gathering, “We want to save lives. Please, either be or use a designated driver when the need presents itself.”
For more information on the HERO Campaign or to pledge to be a designated driver, visit: www.herocampaign.org.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.