FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (February 2, 2017) – The New England Patriots honored longtime fan and HERO Campaign supporter Rick Glasheen of Harwich, Mass. as their Designated Driver of the Season in a ceremony at Gillette Stadium before the divisional playoff game against the Texans on Saturday, January 14th. Glasheen was given a personalized game ball, and will be in attendance at Super Bowl LI in Houston, TX this weekend, representing the Patriots, the HERO Campaign and TEAM Coalition.
Glasheen was chosen as the Patriots’ Designated Driver of the Season from fans who signed up during Patriots home games and took the HERO Pledge to be a designated driver. The Patriots registered more than 22,400 designated drivers at Gillette Stadium this season in partnership with the HERO Campaign, Team Coalition and Arbella Insurance.
“As a veteran myself, I’m proud to support the HERO Campaign in memory of Naval Academy graduate John R. Elliott,” Glasheen said. “The meaning of a designated driver really hit home for me recently when a close friend was struck by a multiple-offender drunk driver.”
The New England Patriots registered 22,466 designated drivers at the HERO Campaign/TEAM Coalition booths at Gillette Stadium this season, the most signed up by any NFL team. Above, New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, center, is joined by Gillette Stadium HERO of the Year Rick Glasheen (with football) of Harwich, Mass. At Glasheen’s right are HERO Campaign representatives Rob Consalvo and Scott Smith of Boston.
About the HERO Campaign:
The HERO Campaign was established by the family of Navy Ensign John Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, who was killed in a July 2000 collision with a drunken driver two months after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. The Campaign is now saving lives in seven states in partnership with law enforcement; schools and colleges; federal and state highway safety organizations; the licensed beverage industry; professional sports teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Football Giants, and the New England Patriots; Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby; and Keeneland Race Course, home of the 2015 Breeder’s Cup. Since its inception in 2000, the HERO Campaign has grown into a major grassroots movement to prevent impaired driving that has received national recognition and awards. It has also helped to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and incidents, including a 35 percent reduction in DUI fatalities in New Jersey and other states over the past decade. For more information visit HEROcampaign.org or call 609-626-3880.
