Founder of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

Lightner's 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunken hit-and-run driver as she walked down a suburban street in Fair Oaks, California. "I promised myself on the day of Cari’s death that I would fight to make this needless homicide count for something positive in the years ahead", Candy later wrote.

The leniency of the sentence given to the repeat offender of driving while intoxicated outraged Lightner, who then organized MADD. Lightner appeared on major television shows, spoke before the US Congress, addressed professional and business groups, and worked tirelessly for years to change public attitudes, modify judicial behavior, and promote tough new legislation.

For her work, Lightner was commended by President Ronald Reagan. She is half Lebanese, and has served as president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee from October 1994 to March 1995.