Candy Lightner

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Candace Lynne "Candy" Lightner (born May 30, 1946) is the organizer and founding president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). On May 3, 1980, Lightner’s 13-year-old daughter, Cari Lightner, was killed by a drunken hit-and-run driver as she walked down a suburban street in Fair Oaks, California. "I promised myself on the day of Cari’s death that I would fight to make this needless homicide count for something positive in the years ahead", Candy Lightner later wrote.[1]

The leniency of the sentence given to the repeat offender of driving while intoxicated (DWI) outraged Lightner who then organized Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.[2] The name was later changed to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The object of her organization was to raise public awareness of the serious nature of drunken driving and to promote tough legislation against the crime.

Lightner appeared on major television shows, spoke before the US Congress, addressed professional and business groups, and worked tirelessly for years to change public attitudes, modify judicial behavior, and promote tough new legislation.[3] She left MADD in 1985.[4] She has since stated that MADD "has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I had ever wanted or envisioned … I didn’t start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving".[5]

Candy Lightner is a recipient of the Presidents Volunteer Action Award, an honorary doctorate in humanities and public service, and was the subject of a made-for-television movie, "Mothers Against Drunk Drivers: the Candy Lightner story."[6] She is the co-author (with Nancy Hathaway) of Giving Sorrow Words. For her work, Lightner was commended by President Ronald Reagan in helping to spread awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.

Lightner, who is half Lebanese, also served as president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee from October 1994 to March 1995.[7][8]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Candy Lightner: the Founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Retrieved on May 1, 2007
  2. ^ Cari Lightner. Retrieved on May 1, 2007
  3. ^ Laurie Davies, 25 years of saving lives, Driven, Fall 2005. Retrieved on May 1, 2007
  4. ^ Legacy of leadership, Driven, Fall 2005. Retrieved on May 1, 2007
  5. ^ Bresnahan, S. (2002). "MADD struggles to remain relevant." Washington Times, August 6.
  6. ^ Candy Lightner: Her mission saved the world. Retrieved on May 1, 2007
  7. ^ Siblani, M. Kay (1994). Candace Lightner new president of ADC, replaces Mokhiber Arab American News, 14 October, 1994
  8. ^ Hanania, Ray (1995). Lightner's departure from ADC: A death knell? Arab American News, 31 March, 1995

[edit] Further reading

  • "Candy Lightner: A grieving mother helped America get MADD." People Weekly, 1999 (March 15), 110
  • Frantzich, S. E. Citizen Democracy: Political Activists in a Cynical Age. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 1999
  • Friedrich, O. "Candy Lightner." Time, 1985, 125, 41
  • "One woman can make a difference: Candy Lightner and Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD." Vogue, 1986, 176, 170
  • "Original thinkers: These five helped reshape the way we see our world --and live and work in it." Life, 1989, 12(12), 167-171
  • Sellinger, M. "Already the conscience of a nation, Candy Lightner prods Congress into action against drunk drivers.” People Weekly, 1984, 22, 102+

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