New Jersey Beer Distributor Sponsors Inaugural HERO Walk to Prevent Drunk Driving

Kramer Beverage of Hammonton, New Jersey, served as one of the sponsors for the Inaugural HERO Walk this October in Ocean City, New Jersey. The walk benefited the HERO Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing drunken driving by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers.

The Ensign John R. Elliot HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers was established in October 2000 in memory of Navy Ensign John R. Elliot of New Jersey, who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunken driver in July 2000. Two months prior to the accident, Elliot had graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he was named the Outstanding HERO (Human Education Resource Officer) of his class.

Mark Kramer of Kramer Beverage has served on the Board of Directors of the HERO Foundation since its inception in 2000. Throughout the years, Kramer has been credited with going above and beyond in helping to market HERO Campaign events and rallying people to participate. With the help of individuals in the community, the HERO Campaign created the Inaugural HERO Walk, which drew more than 1,000 participants representing area schools, colleges, businesses, government agencies, law enforcement, bars and taverns, and members of the licensed beverage industry to Ocean City’s popular boardwalk. More than 70 teams were formed, including some members who were walking in memorial of a loved one they had lost to a drunken driving tragedy.

Pam Tyson, Director of Community Outreach for the HERO Campaign, stated that the inaugural walk provided an opportunity to involve the community’s children and others in the important messaging of the HERO Campaign – “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.” Although a notice for the walk stated “rain or shine,” Tyson gladly reported that the day was sunny and gorgeous as walkers joined the campaign in helping to raise awareness and fight drunken driving tragedies.

For more information, please visit www.herocampaign.org.

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