G E T I N F O R M E D. G E T I N V O LV E D. B E C O M E A L E A D E R .
Informed Families’ Dinner at Joe’s: A Crabulous Success
If Life Is A Box of Chocolates, Then Family Is A Box Of Nuts
W
hether you are ten, forty or eighty years old, we are all impacted in a variety of ways by family. Let’s face it: at one time or another, our families drive us crazy. Why do you think we eat so much during Thanksgiving? As the saying goes, “If you think you are so enlightened, go and spend a week with your parents.” But, it’s not just parents. It’s siblings, cousins, in-laws and sometimes our own children, too!
Generous sponsors and over 400 guests participated in the organization’s 27th Annual Fundraising Dinner at Joe’s. Turn to page 2 for more…
Myth Vs Fact
The latest teen drug use survey is in. Is Marijuana a gateway drug? Turn to page 3 to find out…
7 Creative Ideas for Safe Summer Fun
Research shows that kids with nothing else to do are more likely to use drugs. Check out our tips for keeping your tweens/teens safe this summer on page 3…
For the latest prevention news and tips, visit us online at www.InformedFamilies.org
Much of the internal conflict experienced within families occurs as a result of clashing needs, motivations and values. Age related issues are huge. For example, while parents are concerned about keeping their teens safe, kids crave independence, socializing and are prone to taking risks. Siblings often vie for their parents’ attention and affection. This type of competitive behavior can start in early childhood and continue throughout their lives. No individual is immune from their own box of nuts we call “family.” Why? Because each family member is in their own age, stage, or phase of life and reality doesn’t look the same to each of us. Trying to communicate requires that we have some understanding and appreciation of where each person is in their life cycle. Here are some tips from Parents: The Anti-Drug for staying sane this summer with your tweens and teens: • • • • •
Congratulations to Scott Ginchereau of Orlando, Safe Homes Safe Parties Contest Winner Kudos to you and everyone who took the online pledge to protect your children from underage drinking. We hope you enjoy your $100 Publix Gift Card!
SUMMER 2012
Establish a summertime curfew for your tween/teen Help plan activities to keep your tween/teen busy Schedule time together to do something fun as a family Check in with adult supervisors, such as coaches and employers Meet your child’s friends, especially those that your tween/teen hangs out with regularly
• Set some kind of check-in system, such as an established call time when they get home
Enjoy your summer,
Peggy B. Sapp
President & CEO
Donor of the Year for
7 Years
THANK YOU
CATalyst Sponsor – Thank You
G E T I N F O R M E D. G E T I N V O LV E D. B E C O M E A L E A D E R .
Joe’s Event Raises Over $200,000 For Drug Prevention On May 21st, the claws were out… but only the good kind. Informed Families welcomed over 400 civic and community leaders and supporters to the 27th Annual Joe’s Stone Crab Dinner in Miami Beach. Over $200,000 was raised at the event to support and enhance the organization’s programs and services. Event co-chairs John & Stacy Bolduc and James & Ashley Cusack welcomed guests at the pre-social event. Celebrity Maître ‘Ds including Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sally Heyman, Senator Gwen Margolis, State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle and former Chairman Michael Fay led partygoers into the dinner, where guests enjoyed Joe’s signature dishes and legendary service for a great cause: preventing youth substance abuse. Informed Families thanks the following sponsors: Baptist Health South Florida, Stacy & John Bolduc, Kerrin & Peter Bermont, The Bermont/Carlin Group, Coral Gables Trust Company, Crispin Porter + Bogusky Advertising, Butch & Tammy Davis, Florida Blue, Gulliver Schools, Health Foundation of South Florida McDermott, Will & Emery, LLP, Cindy & Mike Moran, and Kim & Kevin Smith. For a complete list of sponsors and to see more pictures of the event, visit www.informedfamilies.org.
Co-Chairs Dedicate Time, Talent & Treasure To Annual Fundraiser Ashley Cusack and Stacy Bolduc already have a lot on their plates. Ashley juggles multiple jobs: realtor extraordinaire, wife and mother of two. Stacy is a devoted wife and proactive mother raising four children, each attending different schools. But that didn’t stop Ashley and Stacy from taking time out of their very busy schedules to Co-Chair this year’s Joe’s event, along with their husbands Jim Cusack and John Bolduc. “We were delighted to serve as Co-Chairs for the Joe’s event this year,” says Stacy Bolduc. “I learned about the wonderful work of Informed Families when someone invited us to be their guest at Joe’s over ten years ago. It is the most fun event of the year and one that our husbands don’t mind attending!”
James J. Cusack and son James Cusack, II at DEA Award Ceremony
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Ashley Cusack, a childhood friend of CEO Peggy Sapp’s daughter, learned about Informed Families over the years, but also became more involved through the annual fundraising dinner at Joe’s. “Last year, I got my company, EWM, involved in Joe’s and other realtors signed on too,” says Ashley Cusack. “I’ve been attending Joe’s for almost 20 years and I was happy to Co-Chair the event. I love Peggy’s enthusiasm. She has done a wonderful job with the
organization. I look forward to continued involvement.” Cusack’s passion for drug prevention runs in the family. Her father-in-law, James Cusack, a former FBI agent, was recently honored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for his efforts to prevent and treat drug addiction in Joe’s Co-Chairs Ashley Cusack and Stacy Bolduc the Tampa area. The award was given out by Informed Families board member Mark Trouville, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Miami Field Division. “My father in law has always instilled a drug-free message in his kids and we are passing that knowledge down to our own children.” Bolduc is also committed to preventing drug use in her family. “As parents of four children between the ages of 9 and 17, we recognize the importance of Informed Families and its mission of helping kids grow up safe, healthy and drug free. As our kids began entering adolescence, we realized how important the drug free message is and we have integrated it into our lives.”
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. I N F O R M E D F A M I L I E S . O R G
G E T I N F O R M E D. G E T I N V O LV E D. B E C O M E A L E A D E R .
Myth VS. Fact Myth: Marijuana Is Not A Gateway Drug
Fact: Think pot is harmless?
Tell Us What You Think Informed Families is sporting a new modern look online. We’ve launched a new website designed to quickly get you the information you’re looking for to keep your kids safe, healthy and drug free. So what’s new?
Think again. 1/3 of heavy marijuana users also use cocaine, ecstasy or other drugs, according to the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR). Further, nearly one in ten high school students reported using marijuana 20 times or more in the past month. Parents must be aware that teens who regularly use pot are often using other drugs as well.
7 Creative Ideas for Safe Summer Fun
Have you planned activities to keep your teen busy this summer? Research shows that teens who are involved in constructive and adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs. Following are some creative ideas to engage your teen in safe, summer fun: • Plan a supervised camping trip with friends • Take a trip to a free museum or public zoo
• Find information faster and easier with our search bar • Login to create a profile and to tell us what YOU want to hear • Join the conversation through our Blog and social media portals • Access exclusive videos and content for members only
Tell us what you think of the new look. Send an email to info@informedfamilies.org or comment via Facebook, Twitter or our Parent Blog.
• Visit colleges online or plan a trip to visit some colleges
Want the latest trends, tips and stats delivered right to your inbox? Visit www.informedfamilies.org to sign up for our popular eCATalyst newsletter.
• Volunteer at least once a week—soup kitchen, SPCA, hospital, etc. • Take a dance class, cooking class or learn a new skill • Train for a sporting event, like a triathlon • Become a mentor or camp counselor “I hope in some way to communicate our deep gratitude and thankfulness for the assistance provided by Carmela Bechtel and the Informed Families program at our school. Your efforts have made a difference in the individual lives of students as well as impacted our entire school population.” Principal Brummet, Carmela Bechtel and Assistant Principal Snyder at Red Ribbon Certified Schools Celebration
Brent Brummet Principal, Ransom Middle School Pensacola, Florida
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G E T I N F O R M E D. G E T I N V O LV E D. B E C O M E A L E A D E R . 2490 Coral Way Miami, FL 33145 Ph: (305) 856-4886 Fax: (305) 856-4815 www.informedfamilies.org
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See What’s Inside
President’s Message: If Life Is A Box Of Chocolates, Then Family Is A Box Of Nuts Joe’s Event Raises Over $200,000 For Drug Prevention Myth Vs. Fact: Is Marijuana A Gateway Drug? Check Out Our New Look & Tell Us What You Think Co-Chairs Dedicate Time, Talent & Treasure To Annual Fundraiser Seven Creative Ideas For Safe Summer Fun
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H ELPING K IDS G ROW U P S AFE, H EALTHY AND D RUG F REE 2012 Board of Directors OFFICERS
SUNDAY
CHAIRMAN John L. Hofmann, CPA VICE CHAIRMAN Neca Logan SECRETARY Elena Jakubowicz TREASURER Marc Breslow, CPA PRESIDENT & CEO Peggy B. Sapp
MONDAY
DIRECTORS
Eddy Barea Pat Barton James Boink Marino Carbonell Calvina Fay Regine Jean-Pierre Joly Angela Lozano John McLaughlin Joshua Manbor Deborah Montilla James Pfleger Maribeth Rouseff Ed Stone Mark Trouville David Vittoria IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Michael T. Fay
2012 CALENDAR
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
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This issue of the CATalyst is sponsored by the following: Donor of the Year: Florida Blue CATalyst Sponsor: Baptist Health South Florida Power of Prevention Sponsor: The Batchelor Foundation Joe’s Sponsors: Peter & Kerrin Bermont The Bermont/Carlin Group Stacy & John Bolduc Coral Gables Trust Company Crispin Porter + Bogusky Advertising Paul “Butch” & Tammy Davis Gulliver Schools Health Foundation of South Florida McDermott Will & Emery LLP Cindy & Mike Moran Kim & Kevin Smith
7:30am 4 9:30am 5 Red Ribbon Red Ribbon Certified Schools Certified Schools Flag Ceremony, Flag Ceremony, Edgewater Howard High School, Middle School, Orlando Orlando
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FRIDAY
SATURDAY
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Hurricane Season Begins
H A P P Y F AT H E R ’ S D AY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Maria Baluja, RN, CDE Raymond Estefania Bertram “Chico” Goldsmith Georgee Kluck Rona Levitt Judge Norma Lindsey Fabian Thurston
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First Day of Summer
Father’s Day
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For information about Baptist Health South Florida events, visit www.baptisthealth.net. To find out more about Rina Yoga, please visit www.rinayoga.com. If you are interested in the Miami Center for Spiritual Living, visit www.miamicsl.org.