Red Ribbon Week Highlighted at Charity Coalition in Clearwater

Addressing one of our modern 'Horsemen of the Apocalypse', speaker at Red Ribbon Week event encourages young people to find out the truth about substances that might kill them. End Quote

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (1888PressRelease) November 05, 2014 - Eighty-five individuals, representing more than 20 charitable groups assembled at the Fort Harrison in Clearwater this past week in honor of Red Ribbon Week. After a short networking time, guests were invited to sit and enjoy a three course meal and an educational program.

After a short welcome speech, Lisa Mansell - the Community Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology talked about the origin of Red Ribbon Week, which is held the last week in October every year. The event began in 1985, in commemoration DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, who was killed in the line of duty that year.

Ms. Mansell then introduced the "Truth About Drugs" program, one of the social betterment programs developed by the Church of Scientology. The program is secular, and is used by 1,200 organizations, governments and law enforcement agencies around the world.

One such organization is the Hernando County Women's Institution in Brooksville. Looking for a program to educated the inmates on the dangers of drugs, Mr. Andre Buford, who was the Educational Director of the prison at the time, learned of the program and then arranged for inmates themselves to teach the other inmates.

The program consists of a documentary film, featuring real-life experiences from former addicts, as well as booklets that cover the most commonly abused substances, even prescription medication.

Mr. Buford told the audience that the program is very powerful and gave an impassioned plea for everyone in the room to help educate young people about the dangers of abuse.

Following Mr. Buford's talk, guest speakers Aaron Fodiman and Margaret Word Burnside, publishers of Tampa Bay Magazine and well-experienced with the workings of charitable groups answered questions from the guests on how to build a good board of directors, raise funds and produce events.

The presentation was well received, and after announcing that the next Charity Coalition Luncheon will be on the 19th of November, Ms. Mansell invited guests to stay and network.

The Fort Harrison is the international religious retreat for the Church of Scientology, which globally supports social betterment programs. Developed by L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one's true spiritual nature and one's relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being.

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