| | Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Central Texas | Hits 32 | | | | |
| | | | Site Information | | | Information about victim services, youth programs, membership, and events. Serves Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Mills, and San Saba counties.
| In 1979, five-and-a-half-month-old Laura Lamb became one of the world's youngest quadriplegics when Laura and her mother, Cindi, were hit head-on by a repeat drunk driving offender traveling at 120 mph. As a result of the crash, Cindi and her friends waged a war against drunk driving in their home state of Maryland. Less than a year later, on the other side of the country in California, 13-year-old Cari Lightner was killed at the hands of a drunk driver. Two days prior, the offender was released on bail for a hit-and-run drunk driving crash. He already had two drunk driving convictions with a third plea-bargained to "reckless accident." At the time of Cari's death, the drunk driving offender was carrying a valid California driver's license.
Enraged, Cari's mother, Candace Lightner, and friends gathered at a steak house in Sacramento. They discussed forming a group named "MADD-Mothers Against Drunk Drivers." Thus, MADD was born with a name that would sweep the nation. Lightner and Lamb joined forces and by the end of 1981, MADD had 11 chapters in four states.
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MADD, CENTRAL TEXAS CHAPTER HISTORY
After Mothers Against Drunk Driving was formed in 1980, small grassroots Chapters began to form across the nation. Drunk driving victims, turn volunteers with a cause started trying to make a difference in their communities. Around 1982, a hand full of victims and volunteer Reita Hill started the Bell County Chapter. A small grant of $2,500 was given awarded to the Chapter by the Greater Fort Hood area United Way. After five years, the Chapter brought on its first employee, Ms. Hill, and from there the Chapter began to slowly grow. A small office was set up in Harker Heights for her to work out of.
At the same time, three victims in Waco began to evolve their own chapter. It was a slow, hard process but in time both chapter began to come in their own. However, in the mid-90’s the two Chapters decided to add strength to Central Texas by merging as one, and became the Central Texas Chapter, which we are today. The Chapter covers thirteen counties: Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, McLennan, Milam, Mills, and San Saba. This merger helped the area Chapter grow financially, which allowed hundreds more people to be served. The volunteer base grew as well, and ultimately many more victims of drunk driving were able to receive the loving care of MADD victim advocates.
The Central Texas area was in great need of more victim services though, and drunk driving statistics were too high to be ignored. So the one employee started applying for grants to bring in additional help. A part-time employee was brought on board in 1995 to work out of Waco in a small, one room office. By 1998, the part-time funding became full-time funding, and for the first time the chapter was able to have two fully trained victim advocates.
Since then, many grants have come and gone, but the chapter is stronger than ever with two large offices in Waco and Killeen. There are two full-time victim advocates, an executive director, and a part-time community outreach coordinator. Membership is around 1,000 currently. There is a very active board of directors, and two advisory boards to cover the region. Hundreds of presentations are conducted yearly at schools, organizations, and at Ft. Hood. D.W.I. victims are being serviced in all thirteen counties, and strong partnerships have been developed between many law enforcement agencies, district attorney’s offices, and area businesses. While we are proud of how far our Chapter has gone, our vision for Central Texas is even stronger, because it is our goal to someday have a community free from drunk driving and that no one will have to be victims of drunk driving again.
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| | | Contact Information | | | Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Central Texas 4201 LAKESHORE DRIVE, SUITE F WACO, TX 76710, Tel: 254-399-6319 Fax: 254-399-0654 http://www.maddctc.org/ E-mail Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Central Texas | | | | If you're the owner or webmaster of this site then please Claim this Link Once you claim this link and we approve it you will be the only one who can modify the listing in the future. |
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| | Date Added: Fri Aug 26 2005 | | Last Updated: Fri Aug 26 2005 | | | | |
