(Stockton University Greek students competed in a variety of fun outdoor activities Sunday, April 22, 2018 at the school’s 9th annual HERO Games.)

POMONA, N.J. (April 23, 2018) – Stockton University fraternity brothers and sorority sisters capped off their Greek Week festivities Sunday, April 22nd by promoting the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign’s message of safe and sober designated driving at the 9th annual HERO Games.

Students competed in a variety of fun activities including flag football, egg tossing and tug-of-war for a noble and educational cause. More than 60 students participated and signed the HERO Pledge to be a safe and sober designated driver for friends and family.

“Our HERO Games are always a fun and energetic outing to spread the Campaign’s message of safe and sober driving,” Bill Elliott, Co-Founder and Chairman of the HERO Campaign, said. “I’m delighted to see such enthusiasm and eagerness from the students.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury among young adults. In a survey conducted by researchers, one in three young adults reported being a passenger of an impaired driver at least once in the past year. Additionally, 20 percent of drivers were reported to be alcohol-impaired.

“We’re pleased to see these students stand up and say, ‘Not in my sorority, not in my fraternity, not in my university,’” Elliott said. “Young people have a profound influence on their peers, and we need them to lead the way in the advocacy of safe and sober designated driving.”

Since 2010, Stockton has been the headquarters for the HERO Campaign, which promotes designated driving in memory of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2000. The Campaign works with universities to promote the use of safe and sober designated drivers through awareness and fundraising events.

The winning teams for the 9th Annual Stockton HERO Games are as follows:

1st Place: Alpha Phi Delta

2nd Place: Delta Phi Epsilon

3rd Place: Delta Delta Delta

4th Place: Kappa Sigma

(From left to right: Alison Wooten, Laura Davino, Marisa Rosamilia, Alexa Depinho and Darian Francisco pose with their John R. Elliott HERO Campaign tee shirts at the 9th annual HERO Games, held to promote designated driving.)

(Stockton University Greek fraternity boys compete in a game of tug-of-war against the girls. The girls won.)

(Alexa Depinho and Emily Freeman from the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority show off their Hula Hoop skills during the HERO Games competition.)

(Stockton University fraternity and sorority students pose with their HERO Campaign t-shirts.)

(Stockton University sorority students pose with their HERO Campaign t-shirts.)

(Stockton University sorority students take a break from egg tossing.)

(The John R. Elliott Campaign For Designated Drivers handed out t-shirts to the Stockton University students who took pledges to be safe and sober designated drivers.)

(HERO Campaign Chairman and Co-Founder Bill Elliott talks about the importance of safe and sober designated driving.)