Back to Home Media Blog Bakersfield 2020 virtual ‘Walk Like MADD’ – presented by Chain | Cohn | Clark – aims to raise funds to combat impaired driving during pandemic

Bakersfield 2020 virtual ‘Walk Like MADD’ – presented by Chain | Cohn | Clark – aims to raise funds to combat impaired driving during pandemic

September 9, 2020 | Article by Chain | Cohn | Clark staff | Awards & Recognition , Community Service

Bakersfield 2020 virtual ‘Walk Like MADD’ – presented by Chain | Cohn | Clark – aims to raise funds to combat impaired driving during pandemic

Like many nonprofits, MADD Kern County has severely been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, losing a large percentage of funding intended to fight against impaired driving in our community.

In fact, MADD California has lost over 80% of annual revenue, forcing drastic cuts that continue to disrupt grassroots programs and services, officials said. Meanwhile, impaired driving, unfortunately, continues to be one of the leading causes of fatalities and injuries on our roadways.

In a unifying event, MADD California is hosting a virtual Walk Like MADD this year, under the hashtag #OneMADDCalifornia, in an effort to continue fighting to end this 100% preventable crime. In Kern County, the 7th annual Bakersfield virtual “Walk Like MADD and MADD Dash” – presented by Chain | Cohn | Clark – will be held on Oct. 10, and is aimed to raise funds for Kern County’s local educational programs and prevention services, raise awareness of the DUI problem in our local communities, and provide support to local victims and survivors of drunken driving crashes.

“Now more than ever, our community needs to come together in the fight against impaired driving,” said David Cohn, managing partner at attorney at Chain | Cohn | Clark. “The pandemic has not put a stop to DUI crashes in Kern County, and victims still need help. Join us, surviving victims of DUI crashes, families and friends of deceased victims, local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, first responders, advocates, and other community leaders and members to march, rally and run for the cause.”

 

VIRTUAL ‘WALK LIKE MADD’

Since 2009, our community has seen at least 4,000 DUI arrests made each year, with 4,300 DUI arrests in 2018, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. That’s more than 11 DUI arrests per day. About 15 DUI drivers are on the road at any given moment, with a peak between midnight and 3 a.m., where there are nearly 80 DUI drivers in Kern County. Sadly, many impaired drivers weren’t stopped in time, and instead caused major damage to innocent lives through DUI crashes. In fact, for the rate of DUI-related fatal collisions per 100,000 people, Kern County ranks highest in the state and second highest in the nation.

Bakersfield’s Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash is our community’s chance to do something about impaired driving in our community, and proclaim, “No More Victims.” You can help by signing up for the 5K (walk or run), or as a team captain. You can even get involved if you aren’t able to attend by signing up as a “virtual walker,” or by asking a donation toward a participant or team who has been affected. All funds raised from this event stay in Kern County.

MADD California will host a weeklong impactful event from Oct. 3-10 streamed on each Walk Like MADD website and at @MADDCalifornia YouTube, Instagram and Facebook pages. Live and pre-recorded videos will highlight stories from our families on “Why I Walk,” activities will include a mediation/yoga segment, bingo, and Law Enforcement Challenge, and speakers that are key stakeholders in our communities will be featured.

Registration is now open. After Sept. 10 the registration fee is $25 for adults and $20 for youth. The registration fee will go towards your participation, team fundraising goal, and a goodie bag that includes a MADD mask. A packet pick up drive thru will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Chain | Cohn | Clark, 1731 Chester Ave. (Time location is TBD).

For more information, to register and to donate, go to walklikemadd.org/bakersfield, or on Facebook at Bakersfield Virtual Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash.

 

PRESENTED BY CHAIN | COHN | CLARK

Chain | Cohn | Clark for many years has partnered with MADD Kern County to combat DUI crashes, serving as a presenting sponsor. Since the law firm’s involvement with the first Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash, MADD Kern County has raised nearly $400,000 to help local victims of impaired driving crashes. For its work, Chain | Cohn | Clark has been recognized and honored on several occasions:

  • MADD Kern County honored Chain | Cohn | Clark with a “Community Champion” award during the Kern County MADD Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition luncheon ceremony for the law firm’s work toward raising awareness locally and helping victims.
  • Attorney Matt Clark has been awarded the MADD “Pursuit of Justice” award. Clark is a founding board member and organizer for MADD Kern County’s Advisory Board and event planning committees, regularly speaks at local Victim Impact Panels intended to prevent repeat DUI offenses, and has done pro-bono legal work for victims of DUI crashes.
  • Jorge Barrientos, director of marketing and public relations for Chain | Cohn | Clark, has been awarded California’s “Volunteer of the Year” award by MADD California.
  • The law firm was also nominated in the “Corporation of the Year” category for a Beautiful Bakersfield Award, which recognizes a company whose volunteer hours and/or financial donations have made a meaningful difference.

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident, please call Chain | Cohn | Clark at (661) 323-4000 to chat with our Bakersfield injury lawyers.

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