Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958
Samantha I. Lugo (212) 788-9364
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today helped launch a new public service announcement, developed by Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA), intended to encourage New York City adults to serve as mentors for young people at-risk . The Mayor also thanked members of the media for organizing the Partnership for a Drug Free Greater New York (an affiliate of PDFA) and for donating unprecedented levels of advertising time and space to the City's anti-drug effort.
"Thanks to the great work of 'The Partnership for a Drug Free America' and 'The Partnership for a Drug Free Greater New York,' we know that savvy and intelligent advertising is an excellent way to reach young people. But, by far, the most powerful way to get a message across, particularly the anti-drug message, is by example," said Mayor Giuliani.
"The positive, lasting influence of mentoring programs has been documented again and again. Studies show that when we foster meaningful relationships between at-risk children and caring adults, children are 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs," added the Mayor.
"I want to thank the thousands of New Yorkers like Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, Police Commissioner Howard Safir, and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, who already donate their spare time. That's all it takes to make a real difference. I also want to thank the media for helping 'The Partnership for a Drug Free Greater New York' to spread the word. By running the Partnership's anti-drug ads, they have helped reach children throughout the City with the simple but direct message that drugs ruin lives and take away our freedom," the Mayor concluded.
The Mayor was joined by Walteen Truely, Director of The New York Volunteer for Youth Campaign; Mike Townsend, Executive Vice President and Director of Operations for the Partnership for A Drug Free America; and Mitch Dolan, the Partnership's Steering Committee Chairman, at City Hall, to unveil the newest television advertisement.