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News Release

August 4, 2010
News Release Contact:
Philip Bogenberger - (804) 219-2022
E-mail: pubrel@abc.virginia.gov

ABC Announces Recipients of Community Coalition Grants

RICHMOND – In an effort to prevent underage drinking and access to alcohol, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) recently awarded seven Community Coalition Grants totaling $56,350 for alcohol education and enforcement initiatives throughout the commonwealth.

Funded by a federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the grants were awarded to organizations that demonstrated a creative and effective plan to promote zero tolerance for underage drinking, reach large numbers of people through its programs, gain broad-based community support and ensure effectiveness and accountability. The following seven organizations are the 2010–2011 Community Coalition Grant recipients.

Historic Triangle Substance Abuse Coalition; Williamsburg ($10,000)

Activities include:

  • The “Every 30 Minutes Program,” which is taught by local law enforcement for approximately 1,400 students graduating from Williamsburg/James City County Schools and their parents, exposing them to a realistic experience that will challenge favorable attitudes toward underage use of alcohol.
  • A social norms media marketing campaign regarding alcoholic energy drinks will run at local cinemas for a 40-week period.

Piedmont Community Services/HEY! (Helping Engage Youth) Coalition; Martinsville ($10,000)

Activities include:

  • “Communicate With Your Kids Day,” which includes keynote speaker Ginger Katz, of The Courage to Speak organization, who will address youth and parents about the importance of communication regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs.
  • A book club for parents of middle school students using “Please Stop the Rollercoaster!” by Sue Blaney. This book is aimed at parents with teens in grades 6–11 and guides them in discussing important issues, such as decision making regarding underage drinking.
  • Youth surveys regarding alternate activities to underage drinking.
  • Education for parents about the dangers and consequences of social hosting.

Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC); Roanoke ($8,725)

Activities include:

  • A project to provide training to law enforcement and juvenile court services personnel to increase enforcement of alcohol laws.
  • A parental-involvement project to provide information to parents to promote parental disapproval of underage drinking.
  • An educational project to provide information to the public about alcohol laws and consequences to deter youth from drinking and adults from providing.

Rockbridge Area Community Services; Lexington ($10,000)

Activities include:

  • Building capacity in Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project (YADAPP).
  • Creation of “My Voice Makes a Difference” youth engaged video contest.
  • Implementation of Project Sticker Shock, reminding adults that it is illegal to purchase or provide alcohol to someone underage.
  • A “Parents Who Host Campaign,” educating parents about the laws concerning hosting an underage drinking gathering.
  • A “We Don’t Serve Teens” campaign targeting licensees.

Substance Abuse Free Environment Inc. (SAFE); Chesterfield ($5,300)

Activities include:

  • Expanded Café Conversations campaign with a presenter/educator at five additional middle schools with parents and teens.
  • Establishment of parent pods at five additional middle schools.
  • Creation of a Parent Pod Handbook.
  • Positive recognition media campaign regarding retail outlets that comply with ABC laws.

Strong Families/Great Youth Coalition; Harrisonburg ($7,000)

Activities include:

  • Writing, producing and airing of a 20-minute video by coalition youth and Dr. Brian Kelley, Bridgewater College professor, regarding the neurological effects of underage drinking on the adolescent brain. This video will be run as a 30 minute TV show, five times a year to a viewership of 131,070 households. It will be made available to community coalitions across Virginia and will be used at a national Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) presentation in Washington, DC.

City of Virginia Beach; Virginia Beach ($5,325)

Activities include:

  • A teen forum on preventing underage drinking.
  • Creation of a public service announcement.
  • Development of an educational toolkit regarding underage drinking for middle and high schools.
  • Building a float with an underage drinking prevention message to participate in a parade attended by approximately 500,000 people.

 

Facebook: Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
YouTube: www.youtube.com/vaabc
Twitter: @VirginiaABC

 

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