Riley Creek School Wins National Red Ribbon Photo Contest

Gold Beach, OR (Dec. 2, 2016) – ’Tis the season for giving. Riley Creek School is the proud winner of the much-anticipated 2016 National Red Ribbon Photo Contest. Students, faculty and staff were fearlessly led by student council advisor and teacher Jean Zuber in decorating the campus with this year’s theme, “YOLO. Be Drug Free™”. This was done in addition to the school’s traditional Red Ribbon Week ® (Oct. 23-31) celebrations to promote their commitment to living a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.

The contest takes place each year as a part of National Red Ribbon Week – the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention campaign, sponsored by the National Family Partnership (NFP). Jean Zuber will receive an iPad from NFP and the school will receive a $1,000 prize from contest co-sponsors, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), to be used toward drug prevention.

“We are thrilled! Drug prevention is so important because If we don't talk about it and how we need to be drug free, students will think it is normal and ok without realizing all the negative consequences,” said Zuber. “It makes them aware of the consequences of taking those risks”.

Red Ribbon Week began in 1985 after the abduction and murder of DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. The first ever National Red Ribbon Week was organized by the National Family Partnership in 1988. NFP continues to sponsor the campaign for families, schools and communities across the nation each year. Since its inception, the campaign has touched millions of lives to promote and celebrate drug free living.

“An estimated 80 million people celebrate Red Ribbon Week each year,” says NFP President Peggy Sapp. “We designed the contest to involve families, schools, and communities in delivering the drug prevention message to children while promoting a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. We are so impressed by the winners and their wonderful stories about spreading the Red Ribbon message in their homes, schools and communities.”

Close to 100,000 votes were cast in support of the more than 400 contest entries. Money earned for winning the contest will go to drug education and prevention programs.

“Congratulations to all of the Red Ribbon Photo Contest participants,” said Acting DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. “This is a great way to spread the prevention message and educate students and families about drug abuse.”

See all 2016 winning photos at www.redribbon.org/contest/winners.

"We are thrilled," said Jean Zuber, student council advisor and teacher. "Drug prevention is so important because If we don't talk about it and how we need to be drug free, students will think it is normal and ok without realizing all the negative consequences. It makes them aware of the consequences of taking those risks."

To learn more about Red Ribbon Week and the contest, visit www.RedRibbon.org.

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THE NATIONAL FAMILY PARTNERSHIP (NFP) was established in 1980 and is a national leader in drug prevention, education and advocacy. Its mission is to lead our nation’s families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug-free youth. Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and oldest drug prevention campaign. NFP created the campaign in response to the 1985 abduction and murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. Learn more about the National Family Partnership at www.nfp.org.