HERO CAMPAIGN & NBC TV 40 ANNOUNCE PROM-LIMO CONTEST WINNERS:
BRIAN HAAS, WILDWOOD CATHOLIC H.S. SENIOR TAKES TOP HONORS!

Linwood, NJ – Wildwood Catholic High SchoolSenior Brian Haas was named the first place winner of the 2007 “Help the HERO Campaign” Contest for his suggestion to integrate the HERO Campaign into high school health curriculums. The contest, co-sponsored by WMGM NBC TV40 asked high school students to submit original ideas on how they would help the HERO Campaign prevent drunk driving in their town. For his suggestion, Haas received complimentary limousine service for his senior prom, courtesy of Avalon Limousine Service – and his school was awarded a $500.00 grant to promote the HERO Campaign and its message encouraging the use of designated drivers and safe, sober driving.

A second place award was given to Lower Cape May Regional High School Junior Kelsey Gavigan. Gavigan’s suggestion was to start a program called “Pick a Pal” in which “students would sign a pledge card to pick a pal to contact if they needed a ride or wanted to get out of a situation they didn't want to be in. The pal would also sign that they would be there to support their pal.”

Third place was awarded to Oakcrest High School Senior Leanna Dattolo. Dattolo’s suggestion was to create awareness by making a life size silhouette of a person to display in her school lobby. “Each student who promises to be a designated driver would write their name on a paper to add to the collage. Eventually, it would reflect the HEROES we have within our walls.” Both Gavigan and Dattolo received $100.00 awards, with their schools each receiving $250.00 HERO Campaign grants.

Asked if his high school would be one of the first to incorporate Haas’ idea to add the HERO Campaign’s message to its health curriculum, Wildwood Catholic Principal Richard Turco responded “I’m sure that we will!” Haas received his award during a senior class graduation rehearsal. The North Wildwood resident will be attending Gwynedd Mercy College in Fort Washington, PA next fall, where he plans to play on the school’s basketball team. Since the limousine service was awarded after his senior prom had already taken place, Haas plans to use the free ride to attend an upcoming Philadelphia Phillies baseball game.

Haas came up with his suggestion after his mother read about the contest in the newspaper. “She was familiar with the HERO Campaign and told me about it. I thought that this would be a great way to teach kids an important message,” he said.
Gavigan, a Cape May resident who is considering such schools as Penn State University, the University of Virginia and the University of Delaware, heard about the contest while watching NBC TV40. “My mom is a teacher and we were talking about ideas,” Gavigan recalled. “I said – hey, why don’t we suggest a pick-a-pal program?” Her grant money has been dedicated to the school’s Students Against Drunk Driving chapter for use promoting the HERO Campaign’s message.

Dattolo, of Mays Landing, will be attending Cumberland County College next fall, and ultimately Rowan University, where she hopes to be a media production major. She said that she hopes to continue to be an activist against drunk driving, and that her silhouette idea says that “anyone can be a HERO!”

NBC TV40 Weather Anchor Dan Skeldon presented Haas with his first place award, along with HERO Campaign Founder William Elliott. “The quality of responses to this contest was very good,” remarked Skeldon. “There is a possibility that this will become an annual event. We’d love to continue partnering with the HERO Campaign, and this is one way to reach kids – an important segment of the population.”

All high school students in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties were eligible to enter, and entries ranged from Buena Regional High School to Lower Cape May.

The HERO Campaign was launched following the death of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott, who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver in July, 2000. The campaign’s goals include raising awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and keeping drunk drivers off our roads.

“We enjoyed working with NBC TV40 and Avalon Limousine Service in helping to increase awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, and helping to spread the word in a fun and positive way,” said HERO Campaign Education Coordinator Annette Hughes. “We were very impressed with some of the interesting ideas our high school students came up with.”

Further information on the HERO Campaign can be found at www.herocampaign.org, by calling (609) 272-0100 – or by writing to The HERO Campaign, PO Box 700, Somers Point, NJ 08244.

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