MADD Event in Loganville Wednesday in Honor of Red Ribbon Week

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, Loganville Mayor Ray Nunley will host a Red Ribbon Ceremony at City Hall in honor of Red Ribbon Week. A local and a state representative from M.A.D.D. will be in attendance.

Also in honor of National Red Ribbon Week, a contest has been launched to give 10 schools from across the U.S. to each win a $1,000 grant for drug prevention. In addition, 10 families will each win an iPad for their home.

This YouTube video shows families how easy it is to enter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_8oR6zAGhHA The National Family Partnership® is running the contest for its 27th annual Red Ribbon Week®, from Oct. 23 - 31. Studies show that substance abuse risks lessen when children talk to their parents about the dangers of drugs. The goal of 2012's contest is to encourage families to talk about prevention at home and in their neighborhoods.

In a press release, the NFP reported that Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. In 1985 after the murder of a DEA agent, parents, youth and teachers in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the destruction caused by drugs. The contest has been activated this year to give families an opportunity to promote awareness in their neighborhoods and win a drug prevention grant for their schools. Families can generate online votes from friends, colleagues and family members. The entry with the most votes will win.

To participate in the contest families and students get to decorate the front of their homes with this year's message: "The Best Me Is Drug FreeTM." The prize is a $1,000 for their school and a new iPad for their home.

Here’s how to enter.

1. Students bring the Red Ribbon Week® message home by working alongside parents to decorate their front door, mailbox, fence, etc. with this year’s theme “The Best Me Is Drug Free™.”

2. Take a photo with the family and their Red Ribbon Week® decoration, then upload by Nov. 2 to www.redribbon.org/contest or  www.facebook.com/RedRibbonWeek (must be parents or 18+ to upload photos).

3. The voting begins! Ask family and friends to vote for your entry at www.redribbon.org/vote  Nov. 2-16. Ten lucky winners from regions across the U.S. will win. Winners will be announced at events at their winning schools in December.

“Students will once again take Red Ribbon Week’s® message of prevention home to their neighborhoods with this national contest,” NFP’s Volunteer President Peggy Sapp said in a press release. “By decorating their homes together with this year’s Red Ribbon theme, families carry the message to their communities.”

The nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention campaign reaches more than 80 million people nationwide. The DEA is co-sponsoring this year’s national contest.

"DEA is excited to partner with the National Family Partnership® on this contest that empowers communities to come together to talk about the drug problem,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “Red Ribbon Week® is also when we honor DEA Special Agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena, who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe.”

“Take the Red Ribbon Week® pledge across America to help children grow up safe, healthy and drug free,” Sapp said. Visit www.redribbon.org/contest for contest information. 

About the NFP and Red Ribbon Week®

The NFP was established in 1980, and is a national leader in drug prevention, education and advocacy.  Its mission is to lead our nation’s families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug-free youth.   Red Ribbon Week® is the nation’s largest and oldest drug prevention campaign, reaching 80 million people.  NFP created the campaign in response to the 1985 abduction and murder of DEA agent Enrique ‘Kiki’ Camarena.