DA Grant Funds Safe Worcester HS Celebrations

Press release from the Office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.:

May 19, 2021

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. awarded Doherty Memorial High School and Saint Paul Diocesan High School with grants to support fun and safe post-graduation activities for Worcester students.

This year, Mr. Early’s office awarded 16 different schools across Worcester County nearly $20,000 in grants to support programming that helps keep students from drinking and driving after celebratory events like prom and graduation.

“Students have been dealing with a lot in the last year with the Covid-19 pandemic causing them to miss out on time in school, playing sports and enjoying social activities with friends and family,” Mr. Early said. “I am particularly proud this year to be able to help provide these kids with the fun celebrations they deserve to end the school year safely.”

Mr. Early and his Community Outreach Team also offer presentations for teens to promote safety, including on the topics of the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol, social host liability awareness for parents, and distracted driving.

“The hardest part of our job is talking to people in pain. Life can change in the blink of an eye. These programs that our community partners have created help to keep kids safe from unnecessary tragedies caused by combining these celebrations with drinking and driving,” Mr. Early said.

The funding for these grants Mr. Early is providing to high schools across the county is made possible through the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance Drunk Driving Trust Fund, which is a state grant that provides support services and advocacy to victims, witnesses, and their family members of drunk and drugged driving crashes.

This press release was produced by the Office of Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr. The views expressed here are the author's own.