Grammy nominated singer and songwriter Mario announced the new initiative at CADCA’s 24th National Leadership Forum
Washington, D.C. – Today, Grammy nominated singer and songwriter, Mario, joined Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the nation’s leading substance abuse prevention organization, to launch a new partnership between CADCA and The Mario Do Right Foundation to prevent and reduce substance abuse on college campuses. The partnership was announced during CADCA’s 24th National Leadership Forum, held Feb. 3-6 in National Harbor, Md.
The two organizations will embark on a 10-city college tour this spring called the Live Right, Do Right Tour. The initiative aims to educate students on the harm and ramifications of drug abuse, promote healthy choices on campuses and help build new community-based coalitions on college campuses and/or expand the existing coalitions in that city to address drug use among college students.
“We are extremely excited about partnering with a great organization like CADCA for the national college tour. Drug and alcohol abuse is a major problem in our community as well as a problem in colleges across the country. This will be a perfect forum for us to address this issue with the goal of educating students across America,” said Kevin Shird, Co-Founder and President, The Mario Do Right Foundation.
“Alcohol, tobacco and other drug use doesn’t belong on college campuses where students are trying to learn new skills that will shape their future,” said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman and CEO. “That’s why CADCA is honored to collaborate with the Mario Do Right Foundation on this exciting new initiative that will not only help educate college students on the dangers of substance abuse but will also create campus-community coalitions that can help address drug use in a comprehensive manner.”
The Mario Do Right Foundation is a non-profit youth development organization with emphasis on substance abuse prevention. The organization provides education, awareness and support to children of addicted parents (COAP). One of the foundation’s flagship services, the Live Right Do Right program, has positively impacted the lives of youth for years. This cutting-edge substance abuse prevention program is housed inside area schools, building a much-needed bridge to future success. In a classroom setting, students are exposed to an evidence-based curriculum recommended by the American Medical Association, the White House Office of Drug Policy and the U.S Department of Education.
CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s largest training for substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers, bringing together more than 2500 community leaders from across the nation and several other countries. The event offers participants an opportunity to learn effective strategies to solve their community’s substance abuse and violence problems, and to hear from the country’s leading experts on drug prevention, treatment and recovery.
Members of the media interested in press credentials for the National Leadership Forum should contact Natalia Martinez Duncan at (202) 344-5464 or via e-mail at nmartinez@cadca.org.
