Pubdate: Sat, 05 Oct 2013
Source: San Bernardino Sun (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.sbsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1417
Author: Neil Nisperos, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

FEDS AWARD GRANT TO DRUG FREE RC IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - A local non-profit dedicated to keeping youth off 
drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and other illicit substances has received 
a significant federal grant toward its work.

Brenda Chabot, executive director of Drug Free RC, said the money - 
$625,000  will go toward school education, radio ads, and other forms 
of community engagement to keep kids off drugs.

The money is part of a total $19.8 million from the Office of 
National Drug Control Policy, that will go to 147 communities. The 
money is used by Drug Free Community Coalitions that are composed of 
community leaders, parents, teachers, faith organizations and young people.

Drug Free RC was formed in 2008, Chabot said.

"This is the first time we received a grant this large," Chabot said. 
"This is the only drug prevention money coming into the city of 
Rancho Cucamonga. It's the largest we've received that is 
specifically focused on Rancho Cucamonga and it's $625,000 over a 
5-year-period with the ability to more than likely get another like 
this in 5 years, as long as we follow the steps and reapply for the 
continuous grant."

Chabot said a part of the money will go toward potential partnership 
with the local schools.

"We'll also be using the money towards teen presenters -- high school 
seniors who have never used any type of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco to 
mentor 6th and 7th graders so that the younger students can follow 
the footsteps of the older students and their mentors. It works 
really well in San Diego, and they've been doing it for 25 years. 
They have measurable results. We want to continue the programs and my 
hope is to get it into all the schools in Rancho Cucamonga."

Part of the money will also be going toward radio public service 
announcements on KSPA 1510 AM.

"With the grant money, we'll now be able to pick and choose the times 
we run the public service announcements so they'll be on with better 
placement that will be more targeted," said Joe Lyons, regional sales 
manager and public affairs director for the station.

"It's important because people don't realize that the opposing 
message for the legalization of drugs is gradually creeping into the 
media on a regular basis," Lyons said.

Chabot is married to Paul Chabot, president and founder of the 
Coalition for a Drug Free America, which recently held what it billed 
as the nation's first National Marijuana Policy and Strategy 
conference, at the Victoria Garden Cultural Center.

Mayor Dennis Michael is part of the Drug Free RC coalition.

"The Chabots are some of the movers and shakers in Rancho Cucamonga 
as far as fighting the war on drugs in our community, and just to say 
the moniker of Drug Free RC to me is the perfect moniker for their 
organization. If we can create an environment where in time we could 
make this community drug free, we would be better off."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom