Mid-Atlantic Regional Newsletter                                                  October 2021

Executive Director Spotlight

This past month MADD Mid-Atlantic honored hundreds of Law Enforcement and service personnel across the states of Virginia and Maryland at our Law Enforcement Recognition event. We are so grateful for each and every honoree and the work they do each and every day. Thank you for working to keep our roads safe.

 

All of this would have not been possible without the sponsors of this year’s events: State Farm®, ALLEN ALLEN ALLEN & ALLEN, Azreal Franz, News 6, Walmart, The Hill and Chambers Families, Mike Goodove of Swartz Taliaferro Swartz & Goodove, Allstate, Richmond Ford, Walmart, M&T Bank, Rory Unfinished Business, and the Noah A. Leotta Foundation.

 

I also want to thank our venue sponsor, Shamin Hotels, and our Emcees- Greg McQuade of WTVR Ch.6 in Richmond and Adrian Wilcox of State Farm Insurance in Largo MD, and all of our volunteers and staff that made these 2 events possible

 

Pictures from the Maryland event can be seen on the MADD MD Facebook page, and a list of all Maryland recipients can be seen here.  Pictures from the VA event can be seen on the MADD VA Facebook page and a list of all Virginia recipients can be seen here.

Upcoming with more information to come:

Advisory Board opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities

If you would like to connect with me, please do not hesitate to email me at Roderick.howard@madd.org

Halloween can be a deadly evening…

….with young children and impaired drivers coming together at dusk. Last year around Halloween in Virginia, from Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1, 2020, there were 109 alcohol-related crashes, 65 injuries and two deaths. According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a vehicle on Halloween compared to any other day of the year.

I’ve learned so much from this experience over the past 3 years, and my time spent as a Program Specialist on this team has been such a valuable part of my career journey. I know I’ll carry the things I’ve learned here with me to my next adventure, and I’ll always look back on this experience with a lot of fondness. I’m wishing you all the best moving forward. And thanks again for being a part of making my time here at MADD such a great one!

MADD Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Spotlights

Amy Davis - Maryland

Rahul was the love of my life.  I met him in 2002 and his life was taken by a drunk and drugged driver in February, 2015.  He was 52 years old and when I received that phone call from the Georgia State Police, my life, as I knew it, was over.  Read more here on the MADD Maryland blog.

 

Supporting Our Blue!

After having our MADD Mid-Atlantic Region Law Enforcement Recognition Luncheons on the 19th and 20th of October, we figured why stop at one event? Our officers put their lives on the line to keep our roadways safe day in and day out and they play a crucial role in our mission to end drunk driving. High visibility efforts have been shown to reduce drunk driving deaths by 20%. These men and women are here to protect and serve our community and it is our duty to pay it forward to our officers and make them feel appreciated for their hard work.

 

Here are 7 ways we can honor our local Law Enforcement Officers:

1. Share your story of how a law enforcement officer has helped you.
2. Tell an Officer “Thank you”; Nothing warms someone else’s heart more than being recognized and feeling appreciated.
3. Tie a blue ribbon anywhere one can be displayed (e.g. mail box, car antenna, around your tree or on your front door).
4. Send a card; Sending words of appreciation and encouragement to your local law enforcement department.
5. Give a gift card to an officer for a local coffee shop/restaurant.
6. Send a positive note about an officer to their Chief or Sheriff.
7. Mark your calendar to participate in National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD) on January 9th and use any of the ideas above.

Because of the nature of substance impaired driving crashes, MADD Mid-Atlantic’s contact and work with victims means that we are never sure what our cases are going to look like. For us, there is no typical case. The only aspects that the cases have in common is that; 1) they have nothing in common; and 2) they were 100% preventable. Because there is no typical victim profile, our Victim Services Team has become adept at working with people from all backgrounds. In addition, we are aware of the various ways traumatic loss could be experienced by everyone from children, to seniors. No loss occurs in a bubble. Everyone is part of a family, a school, a community, etc., and they are pulling from support from a variety of people in their lives. It’s important to recognize that trauma can present very differently across the life span. Read the rest of this article on the MADD Maryland Blog.

Do you want to be a MADD Mid-Atlantic Volunteer?

Opportunities are available throughout the Region! To learn more, contact cristi.cousins@madd.org for information about upcoming volunteer information sessions

Calendar of events:

 

Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 from (NEW TIME) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST

MADD Mid-Atlantic and The Living Legacy Foundation present: Grief Education Series: Hope and Healing for the Holidays
Open to Anyone in Need of Grief Support (age 15+)

The holidays can be an especially difficult time for those grieving the loss of a loved one. We also know that the holidays may look very different this year for many people due to the pandemic and health/safety precautions. Whether it's a recent loss, one you've been coping with for a while, or even grieving the holidays you had hoped for this year, all types of grief can feel more challenging during times when you're expected to be happy and joyful. Join us and learn about grief, self-care strategies and ways to honor our loved ones. Register for the FREE workshop by clicking here: https://www.thellf.org/for-donor-families/community-grief-resources-and-events/workshops/

 

Tuesday, November 9th, 2021 at 6:00 pm EST

MADD Mid-Atlantic Monthly Virtual Support Group
Topic: Coping with Seasonal Holidays and Expectations
https://madd.zoom.us/j/91097099232?pwd=MFltL1BKZU50MnNQQ01YZzJQUTQxQT09
Meeting ID: 910 9709 9232
Password: 397693
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,91097099232# US (Germantown) 

 

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 6:30 pm EST
MADD Virtual Injured Survivor Support Group:

For tickets and to register for this free support group, Register using this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-coast-madd-injured-survivors-virtual-monthly-support-group-tickets-150322447487

 

Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 6:00 pm (EST)

Resilient Roundtable: Loss of a Child
Register using this Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/madd-mid-atlantic-resilient-roundtable-topic-loss-of-a-child-registration-196718108157