SOMERS POINT, N.J. — A designated-driver campaign born from a South Jersey family's tragedy more than two decades ago is poised for a much larger national reach with $500,000 in federal funding.
The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers has been awarded $500,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice to support expansion of its designated-driver and traffic-safety programs nationally.
HERO Campaign founder Bill Elliott discussed the funding Thursday during an appearance on Klein Time with Dan Klein on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
“We just got our grant renewed from the state of New Jersey Division of Highway Safety, and Congressman Van Drew has arranged a grant from the federal DOJ, the Department of Justice,” Elliott said. “We’re going to be able to expand nationwide.”
Federal records confirm $500,000 was included for the Somers Point-based HERO Campaign through the Justice Department's Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program. The funding was requested by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd.
Van Drew had initially sought $1 million for the project, describing its purpose as supporting “the national expansion of a successful designated driver program.” The final federal appropriation provides $500,000.
The Justice Department lists the recipient as the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers in Somers Point and identifies Van Drew as the congressional requestor.
Van Drew's office subsequently described the award as funding the national expansion of the South Jersey-based campaign's designated-driver and traffic-safety programming.
The HERO Campaign was created by Bill and Muriel Elliott following the death of their son, Navy Ensign John R. Elliott, an Egg Harbor Township native and 2000 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Elliott, 22, was killed by a drunken driver in July 2000 while traveling home to South Jersey. His family subsequently turned its loss into a campaign aimed at preventing other families from experiencing similar tragedies.
The organization's central message is simple: “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.”
What began as a grassroots South Jersey effort has since expanded well beyond the region. The campaign says its efforts have reached seven states and include partnerships with law enforcement agencies, schools and colleges, bars and restaurants and other organizations.
The campaign's presence continues to grow locally as well. East Greenwich Township recently became the first police department in Gloucester County to join the HERO patrol-car program, becoming the 51st agency with a vehicle carrying the campaign's designated-driver message.
The vehicles essentially serve as mobile reminders of the campaign's mission to prevent impaired-driving deaths.
The federal money is separate from state support for the HERO patrol-car program. New Jersey's fiscal 2026 highway-safety grant plan provides $30,000 to the John R. Elliott Foundation-HERO Campaign for its police car wrap project, which places HERO Campaign messaging on police vehicles and supports related public outreach.
Atlantic County Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue, who was the primary guest on Klein's show Thursday, has also incorporated HERO Campaign messaging into the Sheriff's Office.
O'Donoghue said a Sheriff's Office truck has been wrapped with HERO Campaign messaging and is used in conjunction with the department's search-and-rescue equipment. He said the HERO Campaign paid for the vehicle wrap.
The campaign's programs extend beyond law enforcement vehicles. It encourages people to take a designated-driver pledge, works with bars and taverns to promote sober drivers and operates educational programs in high schools and colleges. Its current priorities also include expanding school programs and adding more HERO patrol vehicles.
Specific details about how the new $500,000 federal allocation will be used — including which communities or states could be targeted as part of the national expansion — have not yet been announced.
Elliott is also preparing for one of the organization's major annual South Jersey events. During the WOND interview, he said the John R. Elliott HERO Walk is scheduled for Oct. 18 in Ocean City.
South Jersey NewsBeat will follow the HERO Campaign's expansion as additional details about the federal funding and its plans become available.
Elliott's comments came during Klein Time with Dan Klein, Weekdays 2-4pm on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.
About the Author
Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
