9 DAYS OF LIVE MUSIC KICKS OFF THURSDAY, APRIL 23
February 5, 2015 Louisville, KY. Kentucky Derby Festival is calling on fans to be HEROes this spring. KDF and Kentucky’s Office of Highway Safety announced today that the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers will be the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Waterfront Jam at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront.
“The Office of Highway Safety is excited to be involved with the Derby Festival’s Waterfront Jam and hope to reach tens of thousands of citizens with our messages,” said Bill Bell, Executive Director, Office of Highway Safety. “We want people to be proactively responsible when they decide to drink by choosing a designated driver before the party starts.”
The HERO Campaign is currently in the midst of a 100,000 HEROES pledge drive to sign up that number of designated drivers throughout the country during its 15th anniversary year. They will have booths set up at Thunder Over Louisville, as well as at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, for designated drivers to take the pledge. Pledges can also be made online at www.kentuckyheroes.org
“Safety is always our first priority,” said Mike Berry, KDF President and CEO.” We take extraordinary measures to insure safety and security at all of our events, working with partners like the Louisville Metro Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police, Louisville Metro EMS, Louisville Metro Fire and Rescue, EMA and Metro Safe. This partnership helps take that one step further. We encourage our fans to have fun, and to be responsible by using a designated driver.”
The Kentucky Derby Festival Waterfront Jam Presented by the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign will include live music on two stages at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville featuring over 30 local and regional bands and 7 national acts beginning Thursday, April 23. Admission to all concerts will be FREE with a 2015 Pegasus Pin. Details of the concert acts are still being finalized and will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to the Kentucky Derby Festival, the campaign partners with major league baseball teams, NASCAR, schools and colleges, law enforcement and the alcohol industry to promote its message: Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.
About the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign: The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers is a non-profit organization that seeks to prevent drunk driving by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers. It was established in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott of New Jersey, who was killed by a drunken driver in July 2000, two months after graduating with distinction from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
About the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety: The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety strives to reduce highway fatalities, injuries and crashes by distributing federal grants to law enforcement and highway safety related agencies, promoting federally-funded safety campaigns, and conducting educational programs in schools and communities. To learn more, please visit highwaysafety.ky.gov
About Kentucky Derby Festival: Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
