Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Downingtown students ‘plant the promise’
More than 400 red tulip bulbs were planted around three Downingtown schools to raise awareness about living a drug-free life.
Communities That Care (CTC) and members of the Youth Prevention Club at Downingtown’s three high schools, along with other students and faculty members participated in “plant the promise.” The national initiative, also known as the Red Ribbon Campaign, is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation. Held each October, schools, churches, businesses and
others participate in planting red tulip bulbs in and around their communities. The red tulips bloom in the spring during National Alcohol Awareness Month in April to remind people of the importance of leading a drug free life.
The Red Ribbon campaign was developed after DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was murdered in 1985 while working to uncover the identities of key member of a Mexican drug cartel. In 1986 the Red Ribbon Celebration was created in honor of Camarena and wearing a red ribbon showed an individual’s commitment to fight illegal drug use. Today, it is estimated that more than 80 million youth and adults participate in Red Ribbon Week every year. This is the first time that the Downingtown Area School District participated.
Denise Shovlin, the Youth Prevention Council adviser at West, explained that the flowers will bloom in April during Alcohol Awareness Month.
“It’s important for me to help the students make
good decisions and to make the school beautiful during this important program,” Shovlin said.
The Youth Prevention Councils and other Downingtown Area School District students at the three high schools planted more than 400 tulip bulbs. The councils primary goal is to impact the attitudes and behaviors of their peers relevant to drug and alcohol use.
Downingtown West High School senior Max Minnier completed training last year and a group of students began the club at West while helping Downingtown STEM Academy students to build their program. He said the club helps them connect the community to what the high school students are doing and spread awareness about drug and alcohol prevention. He said he believes it is important to teach people about distracted driving and the consequences of drinking and driving, as well as the consequences of drug use. Visit Daily Local News staff writer Ginger Rae Dunbar’s blog about journalism and volunteering as a firefighter at FirefighterGinger.