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RHODE ISLAND

Achievements

A HISTORY OF MADD RHODE ISLAND

The vast majority of MADD chapters are born of tragedy and MADD RI was no exception. On June 19, 1982, three Woonsocket teens were killed instantly, innocent victims who happened to be in the way of a speeding alleged drunk driver. The female victim was 16-year-old Denise Allard, and though no one realized it at the time, her senseless death would be the impetus for her mother, Mrs. Pauline Allard, to take action.

In early 1983, Pauline approached current MADD Development & PR Director, Dave Russell, then manager of WWON radio in Woonsocket, enlisting his help in a public appeal seeking support for a MADD R.I. Chapter. Her willingness to take positive action despite the obvious torment she was experiencing moved Dave and many others to dedicate themselves to Pauline and the cause.

Pauline buried herself in the mountains of paperwork and research required to qualify as a MADD chapter, and on May 6, 1983, the official charter was in her hands. Led by Pauline as the chapter's first president, the small group met regularly and soon its presence was felt throughout the state. Contacts were made with officials in every arena touching upon the impaired driving issue. Public awareness grew as the chapter held its first Candlelight Vigil, Poster/Essay Contest, and Operation Prom/Graduation in its very first year. Projects that have continued and expanded while many others have been added.

Most importantly, victims of drunk driving now had a voice. Victim support meetings were held monthly and while the criminal justice system continued to give justice to the criminals, the victims finally had a force to speak for them.

The MADD voice was heard, too, in the legislature. The absurdity of the laws governing drunk drivers was brought to the forefront by MADD, and legislators responded, here, and across the nation. A major step forward was the passage of the age 21 bill, shepherded by former Woonsocket Representative, Charles Baldelli.

R.I. Governor, J. Joseph Garrahy, heard the cry and created the Governor's Task Force on Driving while Drunk. He chose Pauline Allard, as a member of that body.

In 1986, Pauline's non-stop commitment to MADD finally took its toll. She agreed, albeit reluctantly, that she had to rest. Dave Russell succeeded her as president. On October 17, 1988, thanks to successful telemarketing fund raising, the chapter opened its first full-time office in Warwick quarters donated by the R.I. Automobile Dealer's Association. Russell was named chapter administrator, while Donald Walsh, whose son David, 23, was killed by a drunk driver, took over the presidency. His leadership spurred an unprecedented flurry of chapter activity that continued under the guidance of David Moniz, who succeeded Don, in 1991. Today, the presidency remains in the Moniz name, as David's wife, Cyndy, succeeded him in 1994. Cyndy is also our Victim Assistance Coordinator. They lost their son, Brendan, age 7, to a drunk driver in 1988.

Drunk drivers also began hearing the voice of MADD victims in 1989, when the R.I. Supreme Court sanctioned MADD victim appearances at the drunk driving schools.

Youth education became one of the major chapter thrusts since the full-time office opened, and that goal was enhanced with the hiring of Gabrielle Abbate, as Assistant Administrator, in 1991. It was in the summer of that year when our chapter had the distinction of sponsoring the nation's very first TeamSpirit Youth Leadership Conference, solely organized by a MADD chapter. We've held TeamSpirit every year since, now still coordinated by Gabrielle, but largely youth-driven to fulfill a goal set when the program first began. Gabrielle has now assumed larger duties at MADD RI as Executive Director.

The chapter office moved to East Greenwich in January, 1993, then to its current site in downtown Providence, a year later. We wish we could say it's a temporary office, but drunk drivers will force us to remain open and active until all facets of society agree that drunk driving is a crime and must be eradicated.