Toms River Woman Honored For Designated Driver Campaign

GALLOWAY, NJ — When Alexa Moore was in high school in Toms River, she volunteered as an emergency medical technician and saw the result of drunken driving crashes.

"I’ve seen the disasters of drunken driving and the fatalities it can cause," said Moore, who is a nursing student at Stockton University. "This is something I feel really strongly that needs to change in the world. We need to have better programs to allow people to not feel like they have to get behind the wheel."

Moore isn't waiting for others to make a change, however; she has led the effort to create a designated driver program that provides rides for members of her sorority. Sigma Delta Tau was the only sorority on campus that relied on an external car service for social events transportation when she joined.

For her efforts, Moore, who is a junior, was selected April 13 as the 2023 Stockton HERO of the Year by the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers.

"I could not be more proud to be aligned with something like this," Moore said, holding a large poster stating "Be Like Alexa. Be a Designated Driver." "I’ve worked really hard in my life to make myself proud of what I’m doing, and I think this might be my proudest achievement so far."

Moore will be featured on signage around campus and on a highway billboard, promoting the message to be a designated driver HERO.

"I’m sure my mom is going to make me take a picture with it, everywhere," Moore said with a laugh. "But I’m really excited to be the face of the HERO Campaign for the next year. It’s a great thing to be a part of."

Moore will be featured on signage around campus and on a highway billboard, promoting the message to be a designated driver HERO.

"I’m sure my mom is going to make me take a picture with it, everywhere," said Moore, a Donovan Catholic graduate, said with a laugh. "But I’m really excited to be the face of the HERO Campaign for the next year. It’s a great thing to be a part of."

Bill Elliott, father of John R. Elliott and founder of the campaign, praised Moore and others who were honored, saying she had probably already saved a life "and certainly will in the future."

The HERO Campaign is named for Ensign John R. Elliott, an Egg Harbor Township resident and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver on his way home for his mother’s birthday in 2000. His family started the John R. Elliott Foundation and HERO Campaign that year.

Elliott said it’s all part of a comprehensive effort to change people’s behavior around drinking and driving.

"We’d like to change the meaning of some terms like happy hour and life of the party," he said. "The real life of the party is the designated driver that enables other people to have fun and still be safe. And the happiest ones at Happy Hour are those who get a ride home from someone who makes sure they get home safely."