Promoting MADD

A symbol of MADD

This is a strong propoganda for MADD.

As Candy promoted the organization it grew rapidly. Candy was asked to serve on the National Commission on Drunk Driving in 1982 with President Ronald Regan. The first big change that MADD made was in 1984 when MADD was able to successfully change the drinking age. They got the U.S. Congress to raise the drinking age from 18 to 21 which statistics have shown saves about 800 lives each year. Once MADD gained popularity in many other states, Candy began to travel around the world to bring awareness to those who were uneducated about the matters with impaired drivers. After her press conference calls were received, the first out of state chapter of MADD was created in Maryland. A year after the first chapter formation, 25 chapters of MADD were created throughout five states. Over the next few years she continued her promotion of MADD and as president of the organization she appeared on many radio and television shows such as Nightline and Good Morning America. In 1983 she was asked to share her story in a movie NBC wanted to create called Mothers Against Drunk Drivers—The Candy Lightner Story. By the end of that year with all the promoting of MADD there were 184 chapters in 39 states. Two years later, in 1984, there were 325 chapters in 47 states and the national headquarters was relocated in Hurst, Texas.

Candy promoted MADD for years and touched the lives of many people throughout the country. Through her speeches, appearances, press conferences, and writings she was able to change the lives of many people. In 1985 Candy Lightner stepped down from her position as the head of Mothers against drunk driving. She realized that by creating this organization she had skipped over many years of grieving for her daughter’s death. In 1990 Candy Lightner finally opened up to grieve and talked about her daughter’s death by writing a book called Giving

Sorrow Words: How to Cope with Grief and Get on with Your Life. Despite stepping down from her position as head of the organization, Candy still traveled the world giving many drunk driving speeches.

Above to the left is a picture of Candy speaking

at a press conference, and to the right is a picture

of Candy's book.


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