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Currently SafeLaunch attends air shows with its program Flights Above Addiction; has Media $500 Contests, where six winners who can best interpret an addiction prevention theme are chosen in the categories of art, photography, songwriting, video, writing and drama; and SafeLaunch Parent Association, where parents of school-aged children can learn how to protect their children from contracting the disease of addiction. He said in 2016, the board is looking forward to offering parents opportunities to utilize the tools the organization offers. Additionally, they are working to provide tests to parents that will allow them to test their children for signs of impairment. “If they refuse the test or fail the test, it gives the parents an opportunity to find out what’s going on,” Cuff said. The final paint job by some of the SafeLaunch students.
For more information on SafeLaunch, go to www.safelaunch.org, call 805-283-SAFE or email info@safelaunch.org.
Pandora’s box, once they’re exposed you can’t unwind it,” Cuff said. The organization is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit that does not receive any taxpayer money and no one involved with the organization receives any salary.
Cuff is a retired United States Naval Commander. He served for 28 years, joining the Navy in 1974 and retiring in 2002. His last post was as the commanding officer of a reserve unit at Point Mugu in Ventura County. He entered the Navy after he graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in business administration. He went to flight school in Pensacola, Fla., became a flight instructor and spent part of his career as a carrier pilot based in the Philippines. Cuff said he joined the Navy because he wanted to fly. “Vietnam was still on when I was in college,” Cuff said. “My dad had a long career with United Airlines and he encouraged me to become a pilot, so I did.” He entered college on a Navy scholarship, so he knew he would enter the Navy once he graduated. Over the course of his career, he has flown to Australia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Africa and other areas. In 2004, Cuff moved to Paso Robles. He grew up in the Bay Area, spent his formative years in Illinois, then returned to California. His son, Ryan, lives in Solvang, where he builds custom homes. Cuff helps Ryan by raising construction funds for G.J. Gardner Construction. He also has a master’s degree in business administration and management from the University of LaVerne. He’s been involved in organizations such as the Optimist Club, San Luis Obispo Child Abuse Prevention Council, Freestyle Foundation and more. While in the Navy, he was deputy director of the Navy and Marine Corp Drug Free, an organization based in New Orleans. He traveled between New Orleans and Ventura as needed.
CULINARY CARNIVAL 8th ANNUAL
“I have been blessed to work closely with Ron …” Rowse said. “Having built SafeLaunch from its inception together makes me uniquely qualified to recommend him as a person of character and as a business partner. His strategic planning, long-range vision, unfailing commitment, generosity, humility, flexibility, and problem-solving skills are some of his assets I most admire.”
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Save the Date
February 6, 2016 5:30 - 8:30 pm New Location!
SLO Vets’ Hall 801 Grand Avenue, SLO Sit-down Dinner · Line Dancing Wine Table · Live Auction Tickets $75 SLOculinarycarnival.com A fundraiser for the Prado Day Center, helping the homeless of San Luis Obispo County since 1997
Though SafeLaunch is currently based in Santa Barbara, with Cuff and volunteers traveling to air shows around the West Coast; in 2015, the organization went to six shows: Watsonville, Salinas, Sacramento, Prescott, Ariz., Del Monte and Santa Inez. Cuff said in the future the board would like to franchise. J A N U A R Y
2016
Journal PLUS