Candy Lightner
Encyclopedia
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, was killed by a hit-and-run driver at Sunset and New York Avenues in Fair Oaks, California.
The leniency of the sentence given to the repeat offender of driving while intoxicated (DWI) outraged Lightner who then organized Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. 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 drunk 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. She left MADD in 1985. 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".
Candy Lightner is a recipient of the President's 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." 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. Currently Candace is a real estate
agent in Alexandria, Virginia
.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...
(MADD). On May 3, 1980, Lightner’s 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a hit-and-run driver at Sunset and New York Avenues in Fair Oaks, California.
The leniency of the sentence given to the repeat offender of driving while intoxicated (DWI) outraged Lightner who then organized Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. 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 drunk 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. She left MADD in 1985. She has since stated that MADD "has become far more neo-prohibitionist
Neo-prohibitionism
Neo-prohibitionism is the belief that the influence of alcohol in society should be reduced through legislation and policies which further restrict the sale and possession of alcohol in order to reduce average per capita consumption and change social norms to reduce its acceptability.-Use of the...
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".
Candy Lightner is a recipient of the President's 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." She is the co-author (with Nancy Hathaway) of Giving Sorrow Words. For her work, Lightner was commended by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
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
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that it is the largest Arab American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. According to its web page it is open to people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and has over 40 chapters in 24 states and members in all...
from October 1994 to March 1995. Currently Candace is a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
agent in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
.
Quotes
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+
External links
- Candy Lightner Biography (Encyclopedia of World Biography)