Mobile Children’s Policy Council to Host "Communities That Care™" Kick-off Breakfast

Dec 10th, 2003

National Spokesperson Michele Ridge, former First Lady of Pennsylvania to Speak

Mobile, AL - Community leaders and officials from state and national organizations will gather to hear details of the "Communities That Care" project, a Youth Investment initiative funded by grants from Purdue Pharma, Mobile Works, Inc., and the Corporate Foundation for Children/FACTS.

The Mobile Children’s Policy Council will host a kick-off breakfast on Wednesday, December 17th at 8:30 a.m. at the International Trade Club located at 205 Water Street in downtown Mobile where the funding awards will be announced. Senator Jeff Sessions, Congressman Jo Bonner, Mayor Mike Dow, County Commissioners Mike Dean and Sam Jones, and members of the Mobile Legislative Delegation will join with other community leaders and youth service specialists to kick-off this project.

National CTC spokesperson Michele Ridge, former First Lady of Pennsylvania, will share her experience of the impact that "Communities That Care" had in her home state during the administration of then Governor and current Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge. Clay
Yeager, Director of Community Partnerships for Purdue Pharma, will announce the $25,000 grant award to be matched with local funding from Mobile Works, Inc. Mobile was selected as one of only nine cities nationwide to partner with Purdue Pharma to implement Communities That Care in 2003.

The Communities That Care system provides strategic consultation, training and research-based tools to help the community join forces to promote positive youth development and prevent adolescent problem behaviors. Data collected in the process provides specific information helpful when applying for grants for community needs. The process addresses community challenges that include alcohol and other substance abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, violence and school dropouts. The implementation of this program over the coming year will provide for data collection, training resources and the development and execution of a community action plan to improve the lives of young people in our community.

Press Conference Location:

International Trade Club
205 Water Street, Mobile, AL

Schedule:

10:00 a.m.
Michele Ridge,
Clay Yeager, Purdue Pharma
Sydney Raine, President, Mobile Works, Inc.
Senator Jeff Sessions
Congressman Jo Bonner
Judge John F. Butler
Other Elected Officials