12th Annual Red Ribbon Game Hosted by Buffalo Bisons and Friends of Prevention HonoredOn Tuesday, May 30, the Buffalo Bisons hosted the 12th Annual “WNY United Red Ribbon Game” at Coca-Cola Field. National Red Ribbon Week is observed every October as a celebration of a grass roots substance abuse prevention effort. People all over the country wear red and participate in community and school activities to show their commitment to living their lives free of substance abuse.

Volume 21, Issue 4

WNY UNITED Digest

I Choose... and Red Ribbon banners displayed by local students

What’s Inside?

12th Annual Red Ribbon Game &

Friends of Prevention

Not a Minor Problem Initiative

Pastoral Response II

Thank you Rich Products

Follow us: @wny_united

Like us: facebook.com/WNYUnited

Research Supported Prevention Education Summer 2017

Locally, WNY United celebrated Red Ribbon Week with rallies and spirit weeks in Buffalo Public Schools, Cleve Hill Middle School, Frontier Middle School, and Lake Shore Middle School. More than 3,200 students earned free tickets to the game for joining Buster Bison and Celery’s “Drug-Free Team.”

In conjunction with the Red Ribbon Game, the 2017 Friends of Prevention were also honored. Each year WNY United selects a few outstanding school and community leaders for their support of WNY United and the programs that they deliver. Friends of Prevention is the Agency’s most prestigious award and this year nine Friends of Prevention were honored with unique WiNnY plaques. The award represents the Agency’s gratitude to the honorees for their dedication to WNY United. Beth Anzalone, Executive Director and Tammy Bennett, Program Director were on the field to present these awards. Sheriff Howard was also on field to congratulate and thank these individuals for their support of the important work that WNY United does every day.

Following the on-field ceremonies, Reese and Chase Chudoba representing WNY United threw the first pitch. Our Friends of Prevention and their families were then treated to a reception at Pettibones Grille.

LIT Showcase Event

LIT Graduation

WNY United Digest 2

WNY UNITED AGAINST DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE, INC.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gerry Pullano, ChairmanAndrew Neyman, TreasurerDenise Fulkerson, SecretaryReginald BurtBrian Chella Patrick FitzgeraldOtis GloverSheriff Timothy Howard Carrie MeyerMary Lou MontanariMary Ellen MulveyDaniel Sarzynski Assunta Ventresca Melinda Rich, Chairperson EmeritusRobert E. Rich, Jr., Chairperson EmeritusRobert E. Rich, III, Emeritus

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steve Barber, President Howard Martin, TreasurerLisa Poch, Secretary Alvino BattistoniJoe BorgeseMichael Buczkowski Joseph CiffaBob GauchatOtis GloverJohn Lunn Kim Rich Lupkin Urmas Lupkin Jim MizeMelinda Rich, Chairperson EmeritusRobert E. Rich, Jr., Chairperson Emeritus

STAFF

Beth Anzalone, CPP, Executive Director Tammy Bennett, CPP Program DirectorMarcia BohnSue BoyleLori BrownDonald Burch, AccountantMike BuscagliaKate ChudobaRyan HartSarah Holsopple, CPPNora KennonDawn Murphy Joe Olgin Julie SchaeferTimothy Smykowski, CPPSamantha Zappala, CPP

New Partnership to Curb Underage Drinking

Consumer’s Beverages, WNY United and Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard have partnered up to launch the ‘Not A Minor Problem’ campaign, an initiative to help curb underage drinking in the WNY area.

The three entities will spread the message through social media and in-store displays. The campaign kicked-

off May 23 with a press conference announcing the partnership.

Through this initiative, Consumers Beverages will place stickers on cases of alcohol and bottleneck hangers on beverages that are appealing to youth. The campaign aims to curb purchasing alcohol for minors and to relay the risks of those who might attempt to break the law. To read the full story and watch the press conference click here: http://www.wnyunited.org/recent-news/not-a-minor-problem-initiative-launches-county-wide

The 2017 Friends of Prevention as pictured left to right:Nicole Bycina, Student Support Services Project Administrator at BPSLinda Dansa, Principal at Blasdell Elementary School Anna Jaremko, Project Coordinator for Independent Health FoundationFrancine Needham, School Counselor at Buffalo Public School # 18Jack Schuyler, Vice President of Procurement, US-Canada Region at Rich Products CorporationLeona Soule, Title III & Title IV Administrative Assistant at Medaille CollegeDave Brown, accepted by his wife Lori Brown, awarded posthumouslyClaudine Ewing, Local News Reporter for WGRZ (not present)

Pastoral Response IIAt WNY United we realize that substance abuse and addiction impact not only individuals and families, but also communities. We are in the community, empowering individuals and groups by giving them the tools they need to prevent addiction and help those struggling to heal from this powerful disease.

Our Pastoral Response efforts engage individuals from a variety of faith traditions to explore the question: “How can we support those who are suffering and do our part to end this epidemic?” As part of this effort, April 29th WNY United joined forces with the social justice branch of the With One Voice ministry of St. John Paul II Parish in Lakeview to present Pastoral Response II. Those gathered were able to learn about addiction and mental health from treatment professionals, spiritual leaders, a dad whose son lost his life to addiction, a sheriff’s deputy and representatives from the Erie County Health department. The event was organized and emceed by WNY United’s Community Mobilization Specialist, Sue Boyle. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Paul Updike, Director of Addiction Medicine and Recovery Services for Catholic Health systems. Other speakers included; Beth Gerardi, Avi Israel, Deacon Greg Moran, Deputy Aaron Naegely and Cheryll Moore. Thanks to the efforts of the Erie County Health Department, many participants were able to be trained in the use of Narcan and receive free kits. The day concluded with an ecumenical prayer service lead by Fr. Michael LaMarca.

The speakers were well received and feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One man who has 33 years of sobriety, when asked about the day, said that he “has not been this energized [about the issue] in years.” Two ladies who drove from Tonawanda told us that it was, “well worth the time in the car,” to be at the event.

WNY United is grateful for the many volunteer hours from JPII parishioners – especially Faith Holmes—that made this event such a positive day for all. We offer thanks for the speakers who not only took time from their personal schedule to share their expertise, but also work diligently on a daily basis to help those in need. And, finally, thanks to those who sacrificed their Saturday morning to attend. Your efforts make our communities safer, healthier places to live.

Kindness Campaign at School 89 with Leaders In Training

WNY United Leaders In Training at BPS #89 Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence took part in a Kindness Campaign as one of their service learning projects. This was in response to Mayor Byron Brown’s recent Anti Bullying Summit.

The 7th and 8th grade teams worked together and wrote positive notes such as, ‘You are Fantastic’ and ‘You Are Stupendous’ on Post It notes during their lunch period. Then, before the entire 7th and 8th grade students returned to class, LIT barraged the lockers and posted about 65 notes on them.

The students were surprised to find the kindness notes and were all smiles. They took photos with their own personal notes and made sure to put them back on their lockers. Some students walked the rows of lockers reading every note aloud. It really made BPS #89 Leaders In Training feel like heroes as they put smiles on their classmates’ faces!

WNY United Digest 3

Thank you Rich Products Procurement Team! Back in September 2015 Jack Schuyler and team “adopted” a few of our LIT Teams to serve at mentors. They explored Career Development, Healthy Grains, Product Packaging & Marketing, and Proper Food Preparation. This year has been filled with new learning experiences and field trips for our Leaders all because of you.

• Jack Schuyler• Justin Waddington• Mark Leonard • Mark Notaro• Rob Myers• Tracy Beck• Wendy Spier• Jenni Patterson• Maureen

Quagliana• Mike Rudney

• Patty Suffoletto• Robert Schreck• Nick Krajacic• Nicole Skelton• John Lewandowski• Linda Veenstra• Angela Sepanski• Rob Clark• Mary Kiener• Chris Roberts• Jen Schmatz

WNY United Digest 4

Want to Golf? Want to Sponsor? Want to Donate?

Visit - http://www.wnyunited.org/drive-against-drugs.

html

It’s Not Too Late!

August 7, 2017 Brierwood Country Club

Rich Products Associates Nicole Skelton, Rob Schreck, & Nick Krajacic with Leaders in Training at School 67

Many Thanks To:

WNY United Digest 5

Leaders in Training Graduation

This year we held our 22nd Annual Leaders in Training (LIT) Graduation at Medaille College on May 25 and bid farewell to 75 graduates from 12 schools in WNY with their proud families.

Haben Berhe and Anaila Hemandez from School 18, Abby Hart from Cleveland Hill and Alysha Pinto from School 18 all shared their essays about “What Leaders In Training Has Meant to Me!” Mar’Tanay Lewis read the closing poem “Oh, The Places LIT Will Go” which adapted from the Dr. Seuss poem “Oh! The Places You’ll Go”.

Anthony Roche from School 27 and Haben Berhe from School 18 were both inducted into the LIT Hall of Fame. Aurora Vazquez and Recardo Craig were selected as the Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees for 2017.

Over the course of two years, the Leaders in Training students participate in conferences, a summer program, retreats and dozens of service learning projects, activities and small-scale fundraising at their schools and within the community. These experiences teach our children to become active agents for positive change in their schools and communities and be positive role models in substance abuse prevention efforts in their high schools. To see the full slide show of photos, visit: http://www.wnyunited.org/recent-news/2017-lit-graduation

Congratulations 2017 LIT Graduates!School 18 Dr. Antonia PantojaMihad Arafat Haben Berhe Reya Chhetri Mohammed DahirAnaila HemandezAli MohammedAlysha PintoDesire TubbinsHser Wah De Zin School 19 Native American Ali Abdikadir Nadia KalwiraSargwell KlayKathlynn MansoVerkai MarshallRhianna Shelvay

School 72 Lorraine ElementaryAlissa Henry Lanessa MashtaireCollin O’Connor Kayla Reaves

School 80 Highgate HeightsDe’Mani J. Fambo Justin GraysonRickelle JonesRidwhan MiahZyere Safford Nevaeh K. Tillmon

School 27 Hillery ParkMarissa Alonso Kei Jana Antoine Kevin CoronadoTaniya Crosby Anthony Roche Raphael SeaburyKaren Williams

School 43 Lovejoy Discovery SchoolKera Herr Dystiny HicksAleigh FloydBreanna MichaloskiBrendan Shaver

School 89 Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence Miguel Breckenridge Jordan Cephus Carmeron HuntMar’Tanay LewisNadiya Smith

School 93 Southside ElementaryJoe Balla Trinity ConnorZachary HodurAndrew MooresJulian RosadoSarah SalisburyDominic Zappia

School 67 Discovery SchoolJake BogdanJadha BrownShelby BrownNathan Galante ConwayAlexis DelmonteHenock DintoSergio Vilgas

School 69 Houghton Academy Caleb Guerra Hailey Joy Jeremy RidgewayBret RostDonovan Vandewater

School 95 Waterfront ElementarySunna BegumBrian CrouseJaliyah Curry Sha’meerah GossomJessica Williams

Cleveland Hill Middle SchoolKhalid As-SamadJayden EschbachNathaniel GodzalaAbby HartAllana LemperieWilliam SilvermanMyles SmithKathryn Vittie

WNY United Digest 6

Who are we? WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse, Inc. is a grass roots initiative designed to increase awareness, educate & mobilize area residents to participate in proven strategies to prevent

substance abuse. We actively promote healthy choices. Funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services through the Erie County Department of Mental Health.

Additional funds provided by the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the Rich Family Foundation, the John R. Oishei Foundation, the WNY United Foundation & private contributions.

Member of Px21, the Erie County Prevention Alliance, WNY Chemical Dependency Consortium and Erie County Opiate Task Force.

WNY United Digest is published electronically three times a year.We encourage community members to submit important dates and story ideas!

Send to: Kate Chudoba, Editor, by email at kchudoba@wnyunited.org.

Showcase Event for Leaders In Training

Every year, WNY United holds the Leaders in Training (LIT) Showcase event to allow our seventh grade Leaders the opportunity to present their service learning projects to their peers, staff, associates from Rich Products and administration from Buffalo Public Schools. This year’s two day event was held at Emerson School of Hospitality and included LIT teams from Lake Shore, Cleveland Hill and Buffalo Public Schools # 18, 19, 27, 72, 95, 93, 69, 89, 74, 80, 43, and 67.

Our Leaders began each day with an exercise in creating a story board about the ‘I Choose’ campaign. ‘I Choose’ is a powerful message that lets students be creative and share what they would choose over using drugs and alcohol. Students were given all the supplies to create their boards and then a few were given the opportunity to present it to all attendees.

Next our Leaders gave their formal presentations on what service learning projects they worked on throughout the school year with their Prevention Specialists. The students made tri-fold boards to accompany their presentation. New this year a few or our schools were adopted by Rich Products Corporation and had associates who came to monthly LIT meetings and served as mentors to our LIT students.

Following the presentations our Leaders received an etiquette lesson from Nicole Castro. She is a LIT alumni from 2005 who recently graduated from Niagara University with a degree in Hospitality. Nicole taught proper place settings and which utensils to use when. She demonstrated proper napkin etiquette and gave the students helpful tips and hints about how to carry on a conversation and how to introduce oneself to the table. After the etiquette lesson the students were served a buffet meal prepared by the staff and students at Emerson.

Our Showcase event was highly successful and our LIT students did an excellent job presenting. For many, it was their first time ever speaking into a microphone and we are proud of everyone for a year full of hard work and dedication. To read the full list of service projects, visit our website. http://www.wnyunited.org/recent-news/lit-showcase-event

Leaders from School 18 Presenting their Service Learning ProjectsSchool 80 Presenting their Service Learning Projects