Bethel Park PRIDE representatives rally at State Capitol

State Representative John Maher (R-Bethel Park) recognized student representatives of Bethel Park High School PRIDE (Parent Resources Institute for Drug Education) Tuesday at the Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking (PAUD) Fifth Annual Youth Rally Day at the State Capitol.

Students from Bethel Park PRIDE, along with over 400 students from across the Commonwealth, are working to help fight substance abuse by Pennsylvania youths.

"I am extremely proud of the students from the Bethel Park PRIDE," said Maher. "PRIDE students have taken initiative to help their classmates avoid the ravages of illegal drug and alcohol use." The students representing Bethel Park in the Capitol were Leah Kroll, Dana Watka, Mary Dibble, Natasha Mascarenhas, and Christine Rauch, along with parent advisor Rachel Gilmore.

As part of the annual Youth Rally Day, students participated in a morning of training that included a session with guest speaker Jeff Yalden, author of the best-selling book, A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking is a coalition of individuals and organizations, containing both youth and adult members, working to reduce underage drinking in Pennsylvania. The mission of PAUD is fulfilled through the development of regional coalitions, youth leadership, public education and media, public policy and social norm initiatives.

"The students of the Bethel Park PRIDE truly inspire hope for the future," Maher said. "When substance abuse at the high school peaked in years past, Bethel Park PRIDE became an even more important part of the solution. Together with the initiatives of the school district, Mayor Morton and the Police, measurable progress has been recorded but it is critical to keep striving. We should all be proud of the contribution Bethel Park PRIDE has made to their school and our community."

The Bethel Park PRIDE is a branch of the national PRIDE organization. The national PRIDE organization was founded over 27 years ago and currently there are over 3,500 students involved in PRIDE Youth Programs across the United States. The Bethel Park Department of Recreation and Leisure Services organized the Bethel Park PRIDE team in 1992 in response to a need for teen programs. PRIDE is a cooperative effort of the Bethel Park School District and the Municipality of Bethel Park.

PRIDE's mission is to educate, promote, and support drug-free youth who care for the safety and health of self, peers, family, and community. In the last eight years, PRIDE of Bethel Park has received six Youth of the Year Awards, two Family of the Year Awards, one Advisor of the Year, one Innovative Program Award in 2000, and the coveted PRIDE 2001 International Team of the Year Award.

To obtain more information on the Bethel Park PRIDE chapter, access the web at www.prideofbp.org.

Rep. John Maher
40th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(412) 831-8080
(717) 783-1522
www.RepMaher.com
Contact: Rachael Lighty
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 705-1834
www.pahousegop.com