Pubdate: Sat, 01 May 2004 Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA) Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers Contact: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/314 ALAMEDA DARE GRADS HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF THE Alameda High School Gym was full of electricity Thursday for the 36th Drug Abuse Resistance Education graduation ceremony. Some 500 fifth-graders from across the Island gathered with families, friends, teachers, DARE officers and others to celebrate their completion of the program. This brings the total to about 18,000 DARE graduates since the program began in Alameda schools in 1986. DARE is a comprehensive 10-week program that educates Alameda youth about the danger of drugs, alcohol and violence. The specific task is to teach kids skills to resist the pressures to experiment with alcohol, tobacco and marijuana and to make healthier and wiser decisions. We graduate almost 1,000 kids each year and every graduation celebration reminds us of the great community, team effort to educate our future leaders. DARE is funded by the Alameda Police Department and the Alameda Unified School District but counts on generous financial support from across the community. We would like to thank the following organizations for their generous donation to the DARE program: The Elks Lodge #1015, which contributes 1,000 DARE T-shirts each year for the students; Harsch Investment Corporation-South Shore Center and Park Street Business Association for gift certificates to winners of the essay and poster contest; and Safeway at South Shore for the helium for the DARE balloons. Without the support from these businesses, the DARE graduation would not be such a huge hit. This year, Taryn Aguiar of Alameda High School, a former DARE graduate, sang an inspirational song for the current DARE graduates and their families. Our Alameda Police Volunteers were also on hand to help us pull off a successful graduation. They are an invaluable support to our department and help us do our job more efficiently. Once again: Congratulations DARE graduates on a job well done. Don't forget what you've learned, apply it to your life and you will have a happier, healthier, drug free life. For more information on the DARE program, contact the COPPS Unit at 337-8305 of visit DARE's website at www.dare.com - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart