A local leader has been recognized for his commitment to reducing underage drinking and impaired driving.
Tim Wright, president of AAA Tennessee, was the second recipient of the John W. Gill, Jr. Substance Abuse Prevention Advocacy Award at MDC’s legislative luncheon.
Wright has been involved with prevention efforts since the 1980s. In 1992, he served on MDC’s DUI Task Force that hosted a community-wide forum with former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop. He also was a member of the Underage Drinking Task Force, which advocated for distinctive licenses for drivers under age 21 in 2006. In addition, Wright has been a staunch supporter of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) clubs since the early 1990s.
Over the last decade, MDC has assisted AAA with many prevention projects, such as Tow-To-Go, which provides a free tow for intoxicated party-goers on New Year’s Eve, and the AAA PROMise to raise awareness about impaired driving on prom night.
“Tim has done so much for MDC and underage drinking prevention. We are thrilled to honor him for his dedication,” Karen Pershing, MDC executive director, said. “We at MDC look forward to many more years of partnership with AAA.”
The award is presented annually by MDC’s board of directors to members of the community who have made exceptional strides in the substance abuse prevention field.