Contact: Gabrielle M. Abbate, Executive Director, MADD-RI, gabbate@maddri.com or Cell: 692-1489 or
Denise Alves, MADD-RI, dalves@maddri.com, Office: 421-0800 or 1 (800) 242-6233
MADD helps survivors survive. We're a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a shoulder to lean on. MADD helps drunk driving victims with emotional support, especially during the Holiday Season. The candlelight vigil serves as an event that memorializes and honors victims as innocent people who were killed or injured needlessly. Families get involved with MADD as part of their healing journey to help prevent tragedies from striking others. The vigil reminds the general public that no one is immune to the completely non-discriminatory person who chooses to drink, then drive.
WHAT: MADD RI's annual vigil of Hope and Remembrance that serves to put faces of people who have been loved to numbers in RI's ongoing challenges with drunk driving. This is the ninth year that a Rhode Island high school hosts the event.
WHEN: Monday, December 3, 2012 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
WHERE: LaSalle Academy, 612 Academy Ave, Providence, RI 02908
WHO: MADD will recognize three women who have a lost a son, a father, and a grandmother at the hands of a drunk driver. victim moms and daughters at this year's vigil. Robin Monica whose son, Jeffrey was killed, Maria DaSilva of Smithfield whose father, Harry Elgar, was killed, and Melissa Ucci of Warwick whose grandmother, Dora Mastrocchio was killed in a drunk driving underage age drinking crash.
Over the past four years all three families have been "adopted" by students at LaSalle to help the families remember their loved ones and to provide the students with consistent reminders of why they should make safer, healthier choices.
Under the leadership and encouragement of Colonel Steven O'Donnell, recruits from the RI Municipal Academy, will also be in attendance. The Providence Police Department Honor Guard will also be available to post the colors.
WHY: Drunk Driving is 100% preventable. With the Holiday Season underway the statistics still show that RI remains among the states with one has the highest percentage of alcohol traffic fatalities in the country, well above the national average.
Victims of Drunk Driving offer a strong and true REALITY check to the problem as they prepare to experience a Holiday Season without a loved one or with a loved one who has been tragically and irrevocably injured.