ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (November 23, 2015) – The portrait of John Elliott has joined the ranks of celebrities featured on the famed walls of The Palm Atlantic City, unveiled at a reception Thursday, November 19 with John’s family and supporters of the HERO Campaign in attendance.

HERO Campaign founder and chairman William Elliott, along with his wife Muriel and daughter Jennifer Elliott Adamchak, thanked Paul Sandler, general manager of The Palm Atlantic City, for offering the wall art as a tribute to John’s memory. The framed portrait is displayed near the likenesses of celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine and Jerry Seinfeld.

“It’s an amazing likeness. We just celebrated his 38th birthday, and I know he’d be proud of what we’ve been able to do in his name,” said William Elliott. “Thousands of people across the country have pledged this year to be designated drivers.”

Atlantic County Sheriff Frank Balles addressed the attendees, thanking them for their support of the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers, which he said has made a huge difference in the number of drunk drivers his officers have to transport.

The event also featured the presentation of the HERO Campaign Volunteer of the Year award to Jane French of Ocean City, who has been with the Campaign since its early years.

“When I see the HERO Campaign sticker on a bumper in front of me, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling,” French said. “I’ve seen the tragedy drunk driving can cause… let’s save many more lives.”

The HERO Campaign’s next event is the HERO Plunge, Run & Pledge on Friday, January 1 at the Music Pier on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J. Individuals and groups can register for the event, purchase a commemorative T-shirt, and challenge others to take the plunge.

View the event photo gallery here.

About the HERO Campaign:
The HERO Campaign was established by the family of Navy Ensign John Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., who was killed in a July 2000 collision with a drunken driver two months after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. The Campaign is now saving lives in seven states in partnership with law enforcement; schools and colleges; federal and state highway safety organizations; the licensed beverage industry; professional sports teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Football Giants, and the New England Patriots; Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby; and Keeneland Race Course, home of the 2015 Breeder’s Cup.

Since its inception in 2000, the HERO Campaign has grown into a major grassroots movement to prevent impaired driving that has received national recognition and awards. It has also helped to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and incidents, including a 35 percent reduction in DUI fatalities in New Jersey and other states over the past decade.

The HERO Campaign’s major annual fundraising events are the HERO Plunge, Run & Pledge on January 1, the Be a HERO Golf Tournament in May and the HERO Walk in October.

Our life-saving mission is simple: To bring an end to drunk driving tragedies by dramatically increasing the use of designated drivers throughout our country. Our goal is to register more than 100,000 new designated drivers, and to make the use of designated drivers as automatic as wearing a seatbelt.

For more information visit HEROcampaign.org or call 609-626-3880.

R. Zumwalt | November 23, 2015