Joel Feldman of The Casey Feldman Foundation and EndDD.org shares his personal experience of loss and the impact he hopes his efforts will make on putting an end to the growing danger of distracted driving

1.
The
Face
of
Distracted
Driving
Joel
Feldman
of
The
Casey
Feldman
Foundation
and
EndDD.org
shares
his
personal
experience
of
loss
and
the
impact
he
hopes
his
efforts
will
make
on
putting
an
end
to
the
growing
danger
of
distracted
driving.
Pennsylvania's
text
ban
has
been
law
for
nearly
a
full
month
now,
but
it's
safe
to
say
that
drivers
of
all
ages
are
pushing
the
limits.
Certainly
the
somewhat
defiant
behavior
being
witnessed
on
the
roads
and
highways
here
in
Philadelphia
is
happening
all
over
the
country,
and
for
most,
it
won't
stop
until
a
ticket
gets
handed
to
them,
or
worse.
Distracted
driving
is
not
a
made-­‐up
problem.
The
people
behind
the
cause
are
not
fanatics.
Many,
though
not
all,
are
parents
or
siblings
of
individuals
that
died
or
were
severely
injured
in
driving
accidents.
Plenty
of
them
are
kids
and
teenagers,
who
watch
their
parents
text,
eat,
engage
in
business
conversations,
change
the
radio
station,
read
email,
even
put
on
makeup,
all
while
navigating
the
roadways.
You've
done
it,
we've
done
it.
Even
Joel
Feldman,
father
of
Casey
Feldman,
who
died
in
2009
after
being
hit
by
a
distracted
driver,
did
it.
Ever
since
losing
his
daughter,
Feldman
has
dedicated
his
time
and
energy
to
changing
not
just
his
behavior,
but
also
all
of
our
behavior.
And
it's
not
just
because
he
wants
to
infringe
on
others'
sense
of
freedom,
or
invite
the
government
into
another
area
of
our
lives;
he
simply
wants
to
help
protect
other
families
from
suffering
the
loss
of
a
loved
one,
at
least
at
the
hands
of
a
distracted
driver.
In
the
coming
months,
you'll
be
hearing
a
lot
more
about
Feldman,
The
Casey
Feldman
Foundation
and
EndDD.org.
Along
with
partner,
60
for
Safety,
EndDD
is
leading
a
national
campaign
in
April,
National
Distracted
Driving
Awareness
Month,
that
will
reach
more
than
100,000
students
in
one
week,
and
kick
off
an
ongoing
safety
and
awareness
campaign
that
will
continue
throughout
2012
and
beyond.
Click
here
for
more
information
on
this
international
Student
Awareness
Initiative,
and
please
follow
us
on
Facebook
here
and
here,
and
also
on
Twitter.

2. How
has
the
creation
of,
and
your
involvement
with,
the
Casey
Feldman
Foundation
(CFF)
impacted
your
ability
to
try
to
adapt
to
the
tragic
loss
of
your
daughter
and
stay
engaged
in
the
present?
JF:
Immediately
after
the
accident,
and
for
quite
some
time
thereafter,
you
are
devastated.
You
are
numb,
in
disbelief,
and
can’t
see
how
you
are
going
to
survive
without
your
child,
or
that
it
is
worth
living
at
all.
You
can't
imagine
that
you're
here,
but
your
child
is
not.
Just
about
every
day—even
3
years
later—I
think
about
the
life
Casey
should
be
living.
Kids
are
supposed
to
bury
their
parents,
not
the
other
way
around.
After
some
time,
with
the
support
of
friends
and
family,
you
begin
to
come
around
and
see
that
you
will
survive—for
me
that
I
had
to
survive
for
my
wife
and
other
child-­‐they
were
entitled
to
a
life
and
to
somehow
find
some
joy
in
living.
Slowly
I
realized
that
Casey
would
be
forgotten
if
we
did
not
do
something
that
allowed
others
to
remember
her—something
that
would
make
a
difference.
The
tragedy
of
Casey’s
death
would
be
far
worse
if
nothing
good
came
about
following
her
death.
Creating
the
foundation
is
one
way
that
Casey's
friends
and
family
can
remember
her.
And,
it's
my
way
of
moving
forward
and
trying
to
adapt
to
a
world
without
my
daughter.
When
did
you
decide
to
launch
EndDD.org
and
why?
JF:
After
we
produced
the
Public
Service
Announcement
(PSA)
for
the
Department
of
Transportation,
we
were
asked
to
participate
in
a
few
programs
that
brought
us
in
contact
with
other
parents
and
safety
officials
involved
in
similar
causes.
What
we
noticed
was
that
while
there
were
many
like-­‐minded
groups,
some
concerns
were
not
being
addressed.
We
also
noticed
that
people
were
moved
by
Casey’s
story
and
committed
to
change
after
hearing
us
speak
about
Casey
and
the
circumstances
of
her
needleless
and
senseless
death.
We
wanted
to
do
our
part
to
ensure
that
traffic
safety
would
become
a
national
priority.
What
are
you
short-­‐term
and
long-­‐term
goals
for
CFF
and
EndDD.org?
JF:
Spreading
our
message
to
as
many
drivers
as
possible,
and
lowering
the
number
of
injuries
and
deaths
due
to
distracted
driving
is
our
No.1
priority.
One
of
our
biggest
goals
for
2013
is
to
push
a
hand-­‐held
cell
phone
ban
in
Pennsylvania.
Another
is
to
host
a
"summit"
event,
where
families
who've
lost
loved
ones
to
distracted
driving
can
work
together
to
create
a
plan
of
action
for
legal
change.
But
because
Casey
volunteered
for
several
charitable
organizations,
including
a
no-­‐kill
animal
shelter,
a
soup
kitchen
and
a
homeless
shelter,
our
mission
also
includes
providing
financial
aid
to
high
school
and
college
students
to
help
them
discover
the
importance
of
volunteerism
and
community
service.
One
of
our
newest
projects
that
we
have
started
with
funds
raised
through
the
CFF,
is
to
help
small
local
non-­‐profits
with
their
technology
needs.
These
non-­‐profits
don’t
have
the
funds
or
personnel
to
write
e-­‐newsletters
and
blogs,
engage
in
social
media
and
beef
up
their
Internet
presence.
As
a
result,
their
missions
suffer.
So
we
have
set
up
a
stipend
program
at
Villanova,
through
the
computer
science
department,
that
matches
students
with
charities
that
need
tech
help.
This
program
is
really
encouraging
and
we
are
looking
to
expand
it
to
other
universities
and
colleges.
We
also
have
supported
students
who
devote
their
spring
breaks
to
performing
service
across
the

3. country
through
the
Alternative
Spring
Break
program.
Trips
have
included
New
York
City
to
feed
the
homeless,
Woodstock,
NY
to
work
at
a
No
Kill
Animal
Shelter,
Cincinnati
to
help
the
homeless
and
New
Orleans
to
aid
Katrina
victims.
Additionally,
each
year
on
July
17th,
the
anniversary
of
Casey's
death,
we
host
a
Day
of
Service
and
Remembrance
at
the
Francisvale
Home
for
Smaller
Animals
in
Radnor,
PA.
Can
you
tell
the
progress
EndDD
and
CFF
are
making?
JF:
The
number
of
calls
we
are
getting—3-­‐4
a
week—from
schools
all
over
the
country
requesting
distracted
driving
presentations
is
certainly
one
indicator
that
our
message
is
spreading.
The
number
of
Facebook
followers
on
both
of
our
community
pages
is
steadily
growing,
and
we're
establishing
more
and
more
relationships
with
individuals
and
organizations
that
have
heard
about
us.
The
surveys
that
we
are
using,
developed
by
the
researchers
at
Children’s
Hospital’s
Injury
and
Research
Prevention
Center
(CIRP),
indicate
that
teens
are
changing
their
driving
behaviors,
and
also
speaking
to
mom
and
dad
and
getting
them
to
change
the
way
they
drive.
What
impact
are
you
trying
to
make
during
April’s
National
Distracted
Driving
Awareness
Month
and
how?
JF:
In
taking
our
presentations
on
the
road
nationally
and
throughout
Canada,
we
are
aiming
to
reach
an
unprecedented
number
of
teenagers.
By
strategically
combining
the
best
of
all
past
presentations
and
the
feedback
that
we
received,
we
intend
to
change
the
way
both
teens
and
adults
think
about
their
behavior
behind
the
wheel.
Delaware
County
and
Montgomery
County
are
declaring
April
as
Distracted
Driving
Awareness
Month,
so
although
we
have
a
North
American
campaign,
we
are
keeping
the
focus
local
as
well.
Aside
from
CFF/EndDD.org,
what
are
some
other
charities
on
the
top
of
your
list
and
why?
JF:
I
am
very
fortunate
that
my
partners
at
Anapol-­‐Schwartz
carry
similar
views
about
giving
back
to
the
community.
The
Law
firm
takes
a
percentage
of
our
fees
and
uses
those
to
benefit
populations
that
are
facing
challenges
similar
to
our
most
severely
injured
clients.
Our
mutual
efforts
have
benefited
several
area
organizations,
including
The
Burn
Foundation,
Legal
Clinic
for
the
Disabled
and
Magee
Rehabilitation
Hospital.
Of
special
note
is
a
project
we
are
currently
working
on
with
Magee
to
have
its
first
therapy
dog
for
use
as
part
of
occupational
therapy
with
the
patients,
not
only
helping
with
immediate
therapy
needs,
but
also
providing
patients
with
the
confidence
to
know
that
after
discharge
they
would
be
able
to
have
and
care
for
their
own
dog,
thus
enriching
their
lives.
How
do
you
maintain
your
legal
edge
at
the
firm
while
overseeing
CFF/EndDD.org?
JF:
Being
able
to
continue
to
practice
law
with
the
support
of
my
law
firm
and
its
26
attorneys
has
been
a
gift.
It
has
afforded
me
both
time
to
heal
and
to
focus
my
attention
on
distracted
driving
awareness.
The
bonus
has
been
seeing
so
many
lawyers
from
my
firm
get
involved.
During
National
Distracted
Driving
Awareness
Month,
we'll

4. collectively
be
speaking
to
almost
5000
students.
What
made
you
decide
to
be
a
grief
counselor,
and
what
have
you
learned/taken
away
from
your
grief
counseling
experiences?
JF:
Before
Casey
died,
I
was
working
toward
a
Master's
Degree
in
Counseling.
I
was
very
focused
on
substance
abuse
and
thought
that
would
be
the
area
in
which
I
would
concentrate.
Now
that
I've
become
acquainted
with
bereavement
on
such
a
personal
level,
I
realize
that
my
personal
experience
of
loss
makes
me
very
good
at
helping
others
as
they
begin
the
process
of
adapting
to
loss.
I
am
also
able
to
combine
lawyering
and
counseling-­‐for
30
years
I
have
represented
badly
injured
people
or
the
family
members
of
those
who
were
killed.
It
was
necessary
to
explore
their
losses
to
be
able
to
maximize
their
damage
claims.
As
a
result
of
my
personal
experience
of
loss,
my
counseling
experience,
including
providing
grief
counseling
through
a
local
hospice,
I
am
much
better
equipped
to
represent
clients,
including
listening
in
an
understanding
way
that
provides
comfort.
I
have
written
several
articles
for
lawyers
about
loss
and
understanding
client’s
losses
in
order
to
better
represent
badly
injured
clients
and
their
families.
What
is
your
favorite
audience
to
talk
to
about
distracted
driving?
JF:
I
enjoy
working
with
students
of
all
ages,
and
although
the
current
campaign
is
focused
on
high
school,
I
believe
that
in
order
to
change
the
driving
culture,
we
will
need
to
start
in
middle
school.
Future
years’
presentations
will
also
include
middle
school
students.
And
of
course
parents,
who
need
to
model
safe
driving
behaviors
for
their
children.
Did
you
ever
drive
distracted?
JF:
All
the
time,
and
often
with
kids
in
the
car.
I'd
dial
my
cell
phone,
rummage
in
the
glove
compartment,
program
the
GPS,
eat,
talk…
I
was
like
most
everyone
else—I
thought
that
since
I
had
not
been
in
an
accident
I
was
a
safe
driver.
I
was
not
a
safe
driver,
only
a
lucky
driver.
What
do
you
do
when
you
see
someone
driving
distracted?
What
do
you
suggest
other
people
do
when
they
see
distracted
drivers?
JF:
The
same
rule
applies
as
that
for
drunk
drivers:
friends
don't
let
friends
drive
distracted.
If
you're
in
the
same
car,
it's
as
easy
as
speaking
up.
But
when
I
see
other
drivers
on
their
phones,
or
doing
all
the
things
I
used
to
do
behind
the
wheel,
there's
not
much
I
can
do
but
hope
they
don't
get
involved
in
an
accident.
I
don't
recommend
honking
or
getting
too
animated
toward
passing
cars
for
the
obvious
reason
that
you
and
the
other
driver
will
then
be
distracted.
What
is
one
of
the
biggest
obstacles
you
have
had
to
overcome
since
you
started
CFF?
JF:
Adapting
to
this
role,
on
top
of
adapting
to
life
without
Casey,
has
been
an
evolving
process.
I'm
here,
doing
this,
because
Casey
is
dead.
So
understanding
that
and

5. continuing
to
put
myself
in
situations
where
I'm
talking
about
what
caused
my
daughter’s
death
is
often
an
emotional
challenge.
When
I
see
other
young
people,
who
will
have
a
chance
to
live
full
lives,
I
think
of
Casey
and
how
she
won’t
have
that
chance.
After
the
presentations
are
finished
I
well
up
and
think
about
what
will
never
be
for
Casey.
CFF,
EndDD.org—they're
not
going
to
bring
Casey
back.
But
it's
keeping
my
thoughts
focused
and
her
memory,
alive.
And,
it's
making
a
difference
in
the
lives
of
other
families.
I
count
myself
as
being
very
lucky
that
I
have
the
opportunity
to
talk
about
my
wonderful
daughter
and
to
save
young
lives
in
the
process.
How
has
the
ability
to
align
with
similarly
minded
organizations
made
CFF/EndDD's
mission
easier?
JF:
Sharing
ideas
with
those
who
have
more
experience
with
creating
and
guiding
foundations,
and
bringing
attention
to
a
cause
is
invaluable.
We've
learned
a
lot
and
found
avenues
to
get
our
message
out
that
we
weren't
aware
of
when
we
started.
The
idea
that
so
many
individuals
are
working
for
the
same
cause
is
inspiring.
Distracted
driving
is
a
global
issue,
and
one
that
can
be
prevented.
It's
much
easier
to
do
as
a
unified
effort.
Looking
back
on
the
past
three
years,
what's
the
most
indelible
thought,
emotion
or
lesson
that's
come
to
you?
JF:
I've
represented
accident
victims
for
over
30
years,
with
many
of
them
killed
by
distracted
driving.
The
year
before
a
distracted
driver
kills
my
daughter,
I
enroll
in
a
Master’s
program
in
counseling
to
learn
how
to
better
to
listen
to
and
speak
with
legal
clients
and
understand
their
losses.
I
am
given
the
opportunity
to
help
those
in
mourning
by
providing
grief
counseling
at
a
hospice.
I
have
been
asked
to
speak
to
groups
about
loss,
about
how
to
improve
the
awkwardness
surrounding
death
so
that
those
who
have
suffered
losses
can
receive
vital
support,
and
I
have
the
good
fortune
of
being
with
law
partners
that
support
and
encourage
me
to
combine
law
and
counseling
to
better
serve
our
clients
and
their
families.
How
did
this
all
happen?
Who
could
have
written
such
a
script?
I
don't
think
it's
a
coincidence.
I
am
here
today,
doing
what
I
am
doing
because
someone,
somebody,
some
higher
power
wanted
me
to
be
here.
And
for
that
I
am
deeply
thankful.