December 16, 2009

With material things too often getting the top billing in Christmas, children at Englewood's Ability School joined thousands of other students in New York / New Jersey Schools in giving their parents a more important gift – their pledge to stay off drugs, to show their friends that a drug-free life is more fun, and to spread the word to others about the harmful effects of drugs.

Other schools where students have made the pledge as part of the national Drug-Free Marshals program include PS 83 of the Bronx, PS 111 of Midtown North Manhattan, Harlem Childrens Zones, Westside YMCAs, Bronx YMCAs, Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Sports and Arts in Schools Foundations, Police Athletic Leagues, and others.

"Every parent wants their children to grow up to be smart, decent, healthy, and successful," said Meghan Fialkoff, Area Director of the program. "Only by staying drug-free do their kids have a chance of fulfilling their dreams, and the dreams of their parents."

The Marshals program, originated by the Church of Scientology in 1997, has sworn in more than 3,000,000 students around the US, and has won the support of parents, law enforcement, and community officials.

At the Ability School this week dozens of children learned about the way drugs can keep them from realizing their dreams, and enthusiastically took the seven-point Drug-Free Marshal's anti-drug pledge.

Then they filled out holiday cards to their parents, which read:

"A holiday gift to my parents – What does a parent want from their child?" Inside, the card has a copy of the Drug-free Marshals Pledge, signed by the child, and the answer to the question: "To be drug-free… I am pledging to be drug-free as a holiday gift… Because I love you."

Church of Scientology New York