The Courage to Speak Foundation Announces Dates of Drug Prevention Presentations Beginning Early Fall

NEWS FROM...

The Courage to Speak Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Ginger Katz

PHONE:  (877) 431- 3295

The Courage to Speak Foundation Announces Dates of Drug Prevention Presentations Beginning Early Fall

Ginger Katz, CEO and founder of The Courage to Speak Foundation and author of Sunny’s Story, will be presenting in Norwalk CT at Roton Middle School on September 19th, Nathan Hale Middle School on October 6th , West Rocks Middle School on October 14th , Ponus Ridge Middle School on October 30th, and Side by Side Charter School in January 2015.

Ms. Katz and her husband, Larry Katz, founded The Courage to Speak Foundation after their son, Ian, tragically died of a drug overdose. Their Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Norwalk, CT, whose mission is "to save lives by empowering youth to be drug free and encouraging parents to communicate effectively with their children about the dangers of drugs."

Today, the heart of the Foundation's work is the nationally renowned Courage to Speak Presentation, delivered by Ms. Katz, which provides a firsthand understanding of drug abuse and its impact on families. The Presentation is followed by a school-based, drug prevention education program, in which over 120 teachers in many states have been trained to deliver and implement the lesson plans.

The Courage to Speak Drug Prevention Program began in 2001, when The Courage to Speak Foundation worked as a team with several experts in drug prevention to spearhead the development of The Foundation's first drug prevention program for schools. An evaluation of the Courage to Speak Foundation programs by Yale University School of Medicine was made possible when the Foundation received a federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention, to expand and enhance its efforts.

The middle school twelve-lesson program is taught in seventh grade, following the Presentation, and includes art, creative writing and other interactive activities based on the drug prevention lessons. Some of the students' artwork are displayed at the Foundation's annual "Courage to Speak Empowering Youth to be Drug Free Family Night," which is held each year in March. There is also a ten-lesson high school program and an eight-lesson elementary school program, based on the book Sunny's Story by Ginger Katz.

Ms. Katz’s book Sunny's Story, is a compelling message of empowering youth to be drug free. Sunny's Story is narrated through the eyes, ears and mind of Sunny, the family beagle, who tells the ups and downs of life with his young master Ian, beginning with their meeting at an animal shelter, and ending with a futile effort to ward off disaster. He tells a heartwarming, but tragic story that makes readers, young and old, think twice about choices being made every day.

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Submitted by Westport, CT

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