RED RIBBON WEEK 2011'S NEW CONTEST

RED RIBBON WEEK 2011'S NEW CONTEST: 

"IT'S UP TO ME TO BE DRUG FREE"

  

 - Students Can Win $1,000 for Their K-12 Schools

and an iPad 2 for themselves -

The 26th annual Red Ribbon Week features a new national contest this year: "It's Up to Me to Be Drug Free." Winners will receive $1,000 for their K-12 schools and an iPad 2 for themselves, from The National Family Partnership and Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership.  

"As schools across America celebrate Red Ribbon Week this year, with this new contest students will take the message home," said Peggy Sapp, NFP's volunteer president and CEO of Informed Families. "By decorating their homes together, families carry the message to their communities."  Recognized as the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention campaign, Red Ribbon Week reaches more than 80 million people nationwide every year from October 23-31.

How the contest works: Students (K-12) can enter from now through October 31 by decorating their homes together with their parents - mailboxes, front doors or fences. Parents (18 or older) can upload photos to www.redribbon.org/enter or www.facebook.com/RedRibbonWeek. Then friends and family can vote for their entry from November 1-15. (In Florida, the contest is sponsored by Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership, and the contest links are www.informedfamilies.org/contest and www.facebook.com/informedfamilies).

The entries with most votes will win. 

Two new online resources from NFP debuting this year are www.redribbon.org and www.facebook.com/redribbonweek, providing valuable tools for families, and showcasing schools, organizations and individuals supporting Red Ribbon Week.

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is co-sponsoring this year's national contest. "SAMHSA is honored to have been part of this effort for many years, and we hope together we will continue to help prevent substance abuse within our families, schools and communities," said Frances Harding, SAMHSA's Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention." The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has also supported the campaign since its very beginnings: "Wear the Red Ribbon to show you care about having a healthy body and a clear mind free of drugs," said Michele M. Leonhart, DEA Administrator.  "Take the pledge, because it's up to you and me to be drug free!"

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About Red Ribbon Week and NFP

Red Ribbon Week is the nation's largest and oldest drug prevention campaign, reaching 80 million people every year from October 23-31. NFP created the national campaign in response to the 1985 death of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, who was abducted and murdered by drug traffickers in Mexico. The NFP was established in 1980, and is a national leader in drug prevention, education and advocacy. Its mission is to lead and support our nation's families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug-free youth.  

About Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership

Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership is a broad-based, grass roots volunteer/parent organization that is affiliated with the National Family Partnership. Informed Families is an education, training and support center for Florida parents, schools and communities to help raise safe, healthy and drug-free children. The organization educates thousands of families annually about how to stay drug and alcohol free through networking and a variety of programs and services.