Phillies Adopt HERO Campaign® to
Prevent Drunk Driving In Memory of Navy Officer

Philadelphia, Pa. – The Philadelphia Phillies today announced they will adopt the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers® at Citizen’s Bank Park to help prevent drunk driving. The Phillies will be the first National League Baseball team to adopt the campaign, inspired by a young Navy Ensign from southern New Jersey who was killed by a drunken driver.  The Boston Red Sox will be the first American League team to adopt the campaign this season at Fenway Park. The New York Giants and Jets are the first NFL teams to adopt the campaign.

HERO Campaign booths at Phillies games will encourage fans to sign up as sober designated drivers in exchange for free soft drinks or bottled water.  Banners and posters with the campaign message “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver®” will be displayed throughout the park. The Phillies will be teaming up with food service vendor ARAMARK to implement the program, expected to register several hundred designated drivers at each game.

HERO spots featuring Phillies players will be broadcast on the stadium Phanavision screen, along with HERO Campaign public service commercials. A drawing will select the “Phillies HERO of the Day,” from registered designated drivers. Winners, announced at the seventh inning stretch, will receive Phillies and HERO Campaign logowear.

The HERO Campaign is the fastest growing drunk driving prevention program in the nation. In addition to the Phillies, Red Sox and NFL teams, the NBA has encouraged its teams to adopt the program.  The U.S. Navy Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program, numerous colleges, and cities from Boston to Key West have adopted the campaign, along with law enforcement agencies and the alcoholic beverage industry. The campaign received the 2004 National Commission Against Drunk Driving Citizen Activist Award in December.

            The HERO Campaign was created by the family of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott, a recent graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in July, 2000. He was preparing to enter naval flight officer school, and was driving home from Annapolis to Egg Harbor Township, N.J. for his mother’s birthday celebration at the time of his death.

            “We are proud and honored to be the first National League baseball team to adopt the HERO Campaign,” noted Phillies General Manager Ed Wade. “The campaign will promote responsibility among our fans and help ensure that everyone gets home safely.”

            Bill Elliott, Ensign Elliott’s father, added:  “The HERO Campaign is a positive legacy for our son. At the Naval Academy John was named the outstanding HERO (Human Education Resource Officer) for his service to his fellow midshipmen. Now the heroes will be the designated drivers who keep our highways safer in John’s memory.”

            In addition to the HERO Campaign, the Elliott family has lobbied for tougher laws to prevent drunk drivers from resuming driving while under the influence following their arrest. Ensign Elliott was killed when a DUI suspect who had been arrested by the NJ State Police resumed driving after release, with tragic consequences.

            John’s Law, passed in New Jersey and Boston, now requires police to impound the cars of drunk driving suspects for up to 12 hours. A federal version providing grant incentives for states who adopt car impoundment is now pending in Congress.

For more information call 1-866-700-HERO (4376).