Dunedin, Florida - The Drug-Free Marshals participated in the opening ceremonies of a recent spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Marshals program mobilizes children, channeling their pressure to steer kids away from drugs by giving them Drug-Free Marshals badges when they pledge not only to stay away from drugs themselves, but to help their families to do so too.
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Drug-free Marshal, 11-year-old Sally Gatza, led the near-capacity crowd in the Canadian and American anthems.
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Eleven-year-old Sally Gatza led the near-capacity crowd in the Canadian and American national anthems and 15-year-old Adam Charny fired the first pitch.
At the ballpark entrance, the Marshals manned a booth where passersby were hailed to take the Marshals’ drug-free pledge and more than 1,500 Truth About Drugs booklets were provided to the fans. The Marshals also sold tickets for the game, for which the Jay’s management earmarked 50% of the earnings for the Marshals’ drug-prevention activities.
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Fifteen-year-old Adam Charny fired the first pitch, signaling the start of the game.
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Drug-Free Marshals earn their Marshals’ badges by pledging to live drug-free lives and help their friends and families do so too. The first Drug-Free Marshals took their pledges in Los Angeles in 1993. Today, 15 years later, an estimated 4 million Drug-Free Marshals have been “sworn in” in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. Drug-Free Marshals conduct community activities tailored to their communities, including clean-ups, blood drives, concerts, contests, forums and roundtables—all geared to raise awareness about drugs.
“The kids loved the day, and support from professional sports teams like the Blue Jays is an important part of popularizing being drug-free,” said Stephanie Bruneau-Klimke, an organizer and spokesperson for the Marshals. “It’s a very worthwhile investment in the future.”
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